diff --git a/axum-extra/src/extract/optional_path.rs b/axum-extra/src/extract/optional_path.rs
index 5824e60029..0d41a66cd6 100644
--- a/axum-extra/src/extract/optional_path.rs
+++ b/axum-extra/src/extract/optional_path.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ use serde::de::DeserializeOwned;
 ///
 /// let app = Router::new()
 ///     .route("/blog", get(render_blog))
-///     .route("/blog/:page", get(render_blog));
+///     .route("/blog/{page}", get(render_blog));
 /// # let app: Router = app;
 /// ```
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         let app = Router::new()
             .route("/", get(handle))
-            .route("/:num", get(handle));
+            .route("/{num}", get(handle));
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
diff --git a/axum-extra/src/handler/mod.rs b/axum-extra/src/handler/mod.rs
index c3bf702410..571ab67707 100644
--- a/axum-extra/src/handler/mod.rs
+++ b/axum-extra/src/handler/mod.rs
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ pub trait HandlerCallWithExtractors<T, S>: Sized {
     /// }
     ///
     /// let app = Router::new().route(
-    ///     "/users/:id",
+    ///     "/users/{id}",
     ///     get(
     ///         // first try `admin`, if that rejects run `user`, finally falling back
     ///         // to `guest`
diff --git a/axum-extra/src/handler/or.rs b/axum-extra/src/handler/or.rs
index faa6851628..f15ccc70b0 100644
--- a/axum-extra/src/handler/or.rs
+++ b/axum-extra/src/handler/or.rs
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ mod tests {
             "fallback"
         }
 
-        let app = Router::new().route("/:id", get(one.or(two).or(three)));
+        let app = Router::new().route("/{id}", get(one.or(two).or(three)));
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
diff --git a/axum-extra/src/protobuf.rs b/axum-extra/src/protobuf.rs
index e4abe04147..d563807403 100644
--- a/axum-extra/src/protobuf.rs
+++ b/axum-extra/src/protobuf.rs
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ use prost::Message;
 ///     # unimplemented!()
 /// }
 ///
-/// let app = Router::new().route("/users/:id", get(get_user));
+/// let app = Router::new().route("/users/{id}", get(get_user));
 /// # let _: Router = app;
 /// ```
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Default)]
diff --git a/axum-extra/src/routing/mod.rs b/axum-extra/src/routing/mod.rs
index bf99bbcf19..9d9aa0cbe6 100644
--- a/axum-extra/src/routing/mod.rs
+++ b/axum-extra/src/routing/mod.rs
@@ -371,11 +371,11 @@ mod tests {
     async fn tsr_with_params() {
         let app = Router::new()
             .route_with_tsr(
-                "/a/:a",
+                "/a/{a}",
                 get(|Path(param): Path<String>| async move { param }),
             )
             .route_with_tsr(
-                "/b/:b/",
+                "/b/{b}/",
                 get(|Path(param): Path<String>| async move { param }),
             );
 
diff --git a/axum-extra/src/routing/resource.rs b/axum-extra/src/routing/resource.rs
index 3c54b9c226..96c15c5533 100644
--- a/axum-extra/src/routing/resource.rs
+++ b/axum-extra/src/routing/resource.rs
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@ use axum::{
 ///     .create(|| async {})
 ///     // `GET /users/new`
 ///     .new(|| async {})
-///     // `GET /users/:users_id`
+///     // `GET /users/{users_id}`
 ///     .show(|Path(user_id): Path<u64>| async {})
-///     // `GET /users/:users_id/edit`
+///     // `GET /users/{users_id}/edit`
 ///     .edit(|Path(user_id): Path<u64>| async {})
-///     // `PUT or PATCH /users/:users_id`
+///     // `PUT or PATCH /users/{users_id}`
 ///     .update(|Path(user_id): Path<u64>| async {})
-///     // `DELETE /users/:users_id`
+///     // `DELETE /users/{users_id}`
 ///     .destroy(|Path(user_id): Path<u64>| async {});
 ///
 /// let app = Router::new().merge(users);
@@ -82,7 +82,9 @@ where
         self.route(&path, get(handler))
     }
 
-    /// Add a handler at `GET /{resource_name}/:{resource_name}_id`.
+    /// Add a handler at `GET /<resource_name>/{<resource_name>_id}`.
+    ///
+    /// For example when the resources are posts: `GET /post/{post_id}`.
     pub fn show<H, T>(self, handler: H) -> Self
     where
         H: Handler<T, S>,
@@ -92,17 +94,21 @@ where
         self.route(&path, get(handler))
     }
 
-    /// Add a handler at `GET /{resource_name}/:{resource_name}_id/edit`.
+    /// Add a handler at `GET /<resource_name>/{<resource_name>_id}/edit`.
+    ///
+    /// For example when the resources are posts: `GET /post/{post_id}/edit`.
     pub fn edit<H, T>(self, handler: H) -> Self
     where
         H: Handler<T, S>,
         T: 'static,
     {
-        let path = format!("/{0}/:{0}_id/edit", self.name);
+        let path = format!("/{0}/{{{0}_id}}/edit", self.name);
         self.route(&path, get(handler))
     }
 
-    /// Add a handler at `PUT or PATCH /resource_name/:{resource_name}_id`.
+    /// Add a handler at `PUT or PATCH /<resource_name>/{<resource_name>_id}`.
+    ///
+    /// For example when the resources are posts: `PUT /post/{post_id}`.
     pub fn update<H, T>(self, handler: H) -> Self
     where
         H: Handler<T, S>,
@@ -115,7 +121,9 @@ where
         )
     }
 
-    /// Add a handler at `DELETE /{resource_name}/:{resource_name}_id`.
+    /// Add a handler at `DELETE /<resource_name>/{<resource_name>_id}`.
+    ///
+    /// For example when the resources are posts: `DELETE /post/{post_id}`.
     pub fn destroy<H, T>(self, handler: H) -> Self
     where
         H: Handler<T, S>,
@@ -130,7 +138,7 @@ where
     }
 
     fn show_update_destroy_path(&self) -> String {
-        format!("/{0}/:{0}_id", self.name)
+        format!("/{0}/{{{0}_id}}", self.name)
     }
 
     fn route(mut self, path: &str, method_router: MethodRouter<S>) -> Self {
diff --git a/axum-extra/src/routing/typed.rs b/axum-extra/src/routing/typed.rs
index 34c9513bc3..02c5be672c 100644
--- a/axum-extra/src/routing/typed.rs
+++ b/axum-extra/src/routing/typed.rs
@@ -19,15 +19,15 @@ use serde::Serialize;
 ///     RouterExt, // for `Router::typed_*`
 /// };
 ///
-/// // A type safe route with `/users/:id` as its associated path.
+/// // A type safe route with `/users/{id}` as its associated path.
 /// #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-/// #[typed_path("/users/:id")]
+/// #[typed_path("/users/{id}")]
 /// struct UsersMember {
 ///     id: u32,
 /// }
 ///
 /// // A regular handler function that takes `UsersMember` as the first argument
-/// // and thus creates a typed connection between this handler and the `/users/:id` path.
+/// // and thus creates a typed connection between this handler and the `/users/{id}` path.
 /// //
 /// // The `TypedPath` must be the first argument to the function.
 /// async fn users_show(
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ use serde::Serialize;
 /// let app = Router::new()
 ///     // Add our typed route to the router.
 ///     //
-///     // The path will be inferred to `/users/:id` since `users_show`'s
+///     // The path will be inferred to `/users/{id}` since `users_show`'s
 ///     // first argument is `UsersMember` which implements `TypedPath`
 ///     .typed_get(users_show)
 ///     .typed_post(users_create)
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ use serde::Serialize;
 /// use axum_extra::routing::TypedPath;
 ///
 /// #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-/// #[typed_path("/users/:id")]
+/// #[typed_path("/users/{id}")]
 /// struct UsersMember {
 ///     id: u32,
 /// }
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ use serde::Serialize;
 /// use axum_extra::routing::TypedPath;
 ///
 /// #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-/// #[typed_path("/users/:id/teams/:team_id")]
+/// #[typed_path("/users/{id}/teams/{team_id}")]
 /// struct UsersMember {
 ///     id: u32,
 /// }
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ use serde::Serialize;
 /// struct UsersCollection;
 ///
 /// #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-/// #[typed_path("/users/:id")]
+/// #[typed_path("/users/{id}")]
 /// struct UsersMember(u32);
 /// ```
 ///
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ use serde::Serialize;
 /// use axum_extra::routing::TypedPath;
 ///
 /// #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-/// #[typed_path("/users/:id")]
+/// #[typed_path("/users/{id}")]
 /// struct UsersMember {
 ///     id: String,
 /// }
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ use serde::Serialize;
 /// };
 ///
 /// #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-/// #[typed_path("/users/:id", rejection(UsersMemberRejection))]
+/// #[typed_path("/users/{id}", rejection(UsersMemberRejection))]
 /// struct UsersMember {
 ///     id: String,
 /// }
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ use serde::Serialize;
 /// [`Deserialize`]: serde::Deserialize
 /// [`PathRejection`]: axum::extract::rejection::PathRejection
 pub trait TypedPath: std::fmt::Display {
-    /// The path with optional captures such as `/users/:id`.
+    /// The path with optional captures such as `/users/{id}`.
     const PATH: &'static str;
 
     /// Convert the path into a `Uri`.
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ mod tests {
     use serde::Deserialize;
 
     #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-    #[typed_path("/users/:id")]
+    #[typed_path("/users/{id}")]
     struct UsersShow {
         id: i32,
     }
diff --git a/axum-extra/src/typed_header.rs b/axum-extra/src/typed_header.rs
index 701a6dd0c5..ef94c3779c 100644
--- a/axum-extra/src/typed_header.rs
+++ b/axum-extra/src/typed_header.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ use std::convert::Infallible;
 ///     // ...
 /// }
 ///
-/// let app = Router::new().route("/users/:user_id/team/:team_id", get(users_teams_show));
+/// let app = Router::new().route("/users/{user_id}/team/{team_id}", get(users_teams_show));
 /// # let _: Router = app;
 /// ```
 ///
diff --git a/axum-macros/src/typed_path.rs b/axum-macros/src/typed_path.rs
index 61e1695b00..fa272252be 100644
--- a/axum-macros/src/typed_path.rs
+++ b/axum-macros/src/typed_path.rs
@@ -383,8 +383,12 @@ fn parse_path(path: &LitStr) -> syn::Result<Vec<Segment>> {
         .split('/')
         .map(|segment| {
             if let Some(capture) = segment
-                .strip_prefix(':')
-                .or_else(|| segment.strip_prefix('*'))
+                .strip_prefix('{')
+                .and_then(|segment| segment.strip_suffix('}'))
+                .and_then(|segment| {
+                    (!segment.starts_with('{') && !segment.ends_with('}')).then_some(segment)
+                })
+                .map(|capture| capture.strip_prefix('*').unwrap_or(capture))
             {
                 Ok(Segment::Capture(capture.to_owned(), path.span()))
             } else {
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/missing_field.rs b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/missing_field.rs
index 2e211769ab..6991ed1643 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/missing_field.rs
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/missing_field.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use axum_macros::TypedPath;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-#[typed_path("/users/:id")]
+#[typed_path("/users/{id}")]
 struct MyPath {}
 
 fn main() {
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/missing_field.stderr b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/missing_field.stderr
index faf2d4b681..2a85e74938 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/missing_field.stderr
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/missing_field.stderr
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 error[E0026]: struct `MyPath` does not have a field named `id`
  --> tests/typed_path/fail/missing_field.rs:5:14
   |
-5 | #[typed_path("/users/:id")]
-  |              ^^^^^^^^^^^^ struct `MyPath` does not have this field
+5 | #[typed_path("/users/{id}")]
+  |              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ struct `MyPath` does not have this field
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/not_deserialize.rs b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/not_deserialize.rs
index b569186651..1d99e8f2aa 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/not_deserialize.rs
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/not_deserialize.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use axum_macros::TypedPath;
 
 #[derive(TypedPath)]
-#[typed_path("/users/:id")]
+#[typed_path("/users/{id}")]
 struct MyPath {
     id: u32,
 }
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/route_not_starting_with_slash_non_empty.rs b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/route_not_starting_with_slash_non_empty.rs
index 33ae38d699..9d45b99964 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/route_not_starting_with_slash_non_empty.rs
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/route_not_starting_with_slash_non_empty.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use axum_extra::routing::TypedPath;
 
 #[derive(TypedPath)]
-#[typed_path(":foo")]
+#[typed_path("{foo}")]
 struct MyPath;
 
 fn main() {}
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/route_not_starting_with_slash_non_empty.stderr b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/route_not_starting_with_slash_non_empty.stderr
index db8e40f024..f1b7b2caf3 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/route_not_starting_with_slash_non_empty.stderr
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/route_not_starting_with_slash_non_empty.stderr
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 error: paths must start with a `/`
  --> tests/typed_path/fail/route_not_starting_with_slash_non_empty.rs:4:14
   |
-4 | #[typed_path(":foo")]
-  |              ^^^^^^
+4 | #[typed_path("{foo}")]
+  |              ^^^^^^^
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/unit_with_capture.rs b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/unit_with_capture.rs
index 49979cf725..ddd544f658 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/unit_with_capture.rs
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/unit_with_capture.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use axum_macros::TypedPath;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-#[typed_path("/users/:id")]
+#[typed_path("/users/{id}")]
 struct MyPath;
 
 fn main() {}
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/unit_with_capture.stderr b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/unit_with_capture.stderr
index d290308c8e..058ca6f974 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/unit_with_capture.stderr
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/fail/unit_with_capture.stderr
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 error: Typed paths for unit structs cannot contain captures
  --> tests/typed_path/fail/unit_with_capture.rs:5:14
   |
-5 | #[typed_path("/users/:id")]
-  |              ^^^^^^^^^^^^
+5 | #[typed_path("/users/{id}")]
+  |              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/customize_rejection.rs b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/customize_rejection.rs
index 01f11fc94c..080bc3f2d3 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/customize_rejection.rs
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/customize_rejection.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use axum_extra::routing::{RouterExt, TypedPath};
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-#[typed_path("/:foo", rejection(MyRejection))]
+#[typed_path("/{foo}", rejection(MyRejection))]
 struct MyPathNamed {
     foo: String,
 }
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ struct MyPathNamed {
 struct MyPathUnit;
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-#[typed_path("/:foo", rejection(MyRejection))]
+#[typed_path("/{foo}", rejection(MyRejection))]
 struct MyPathUnnamed(String);
 
 struct MyRejection;
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/into_uri.rs b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/into_uri.rs
index 5276627c2f..2269b53133 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/into_uri.rs
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/into_uri.rs
@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@ use axum::http::Uri;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-#[typed_path("/:id")]
+#[typed_path("/{id}")]
 struct Named {
     id: u32,
 }
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-#[typed_path("/:id")]
+#[typed_path("/{id}")]
 struct Unnamed(u32);
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/named_fields_struct.rs b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/named_fields_struct.rs
index 042936fe02..5decd89c89 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/named_fields_struct.rs
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/named_fields_struct.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use axum_extra::routing::TypedPath;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-#[typed_path("/users/:user_id/teams/:team_id")]
+#[typed_path("/users/{user_id}/teams/{team_id}")]
 struct MyPath {
     user_id: u32,
     team_id: u32,
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ struct MyPath {
 fn main() {
     _ = axum::Router::<()>::new().route("/", axum::routing::get(|_: MyPath| async {}));
 
-    assert_eq!(MyPath::PATH, "/users/:user_id/teams/:team_id");
+    assert_eq!(MyPath::PATH, "/users/{user_id}/teams/{team_id}");
     assert_eq!(
         format!(
             "{}",
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/option_result.rs b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/option_result.rs
index 1bd2359010..36ea33707e 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/option_result.rs
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/option_result.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use axum::{extract::rejection::PathRejection, http::StatusCode};
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-#[typed_path("/users/:id")]
+#[typed_path("/users/{id}")]
 struct UsersShow {
     id: String,
 }
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/tuple_struct.rs b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/tuple_struct.rs
index 3ee8370402..0c85bae5ec 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/tuple_struct.rs
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/tuple_struct.rs
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@ use serde::Deserialize;
 pub type Result<T> = std::result::Result<T, ()>;
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-#[typed_path("/users/:user_id/teams/:team_id")]
+#[typed_path("/users/{user_id}/teams/{team_id}")]
 struct MyPath(u32, u32);
 
 fn main() {
     _ = axum::Router::<()>::new().route("/", axum::routing::get(|_: MyPath| async {}));
 
-    assert_eq!(MyPath::PATH, "/users/:user_id/teams/:team_id");
+    assert_eq!(MyPath::PATH, "/users/{user_id}/teams/{team_id}");
     assert_eq!(format!("{}", MyPath(1, 2)), "/users/1/teams/2");
 }
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/url_encoding.rs b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/url_encoding.rs
index db1c3700ab..5ac412e447 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/url_encoding.rs
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/url_encoding.rs
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@ use axum_extra::routing::TypedPath;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-#[typed_path("/:param")]
+#[typed_path("/{param}")]
 struct Named {
     param: String,
 }
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-#[typed_path("/:param")]
+#[typed_path("/{param}")]
 struct Unnamed(String);
 
 fn main() {
diff --git a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/wildcards.rs b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/wildcards.rs
index 98aa5f5153..51f0c3f540 100644
--- a/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/wildcards.rs
+++ b/axum-macros/tests/typed_path/pass/wildcards.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use axum_extra::routing::{RouterExt, TypedPath};
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
 #[derive(TypedPath, Deserialize)]
-#[typed_path("/*rest")]
+#[typed_path("/{*rest}")]
 struct MyPath {
     rest: String,
 }
diff --git a/axum/Cargo.toml b/axum/Cargo.toml
index 5c419ef372..6b8d70445d 100644
--- a/axum/Cargo.toml
+++ b/axum/Cargo.toml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ http = "1.0.0"
 http-body = "1.0.0"
 http-body-util = "0.1.0"
 itoa = "1.0.5"
-matchit = "0.7"
+matchit = "=0.8.0"
 memchr = "2.4.1"
 mime = "0.3.16"
 percent-encoding = "2.1"
diff --git a/axum/src/docs/extract.md b/axum/src/docs/extract.md
index 4f52a3ad30..244528d6a8 100644
--- a/axum/src/docs/extract.md
+++ b/axum/src/docs/extract.md
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ async fn extension(Extension(state): Extension<State>) {}
 struct State { /* ... */ }
 
 let app = Router::new()
-    .route("/path/:user_id", post(path))
+    .route("/path/{user_id}", post(path))
     .route("/query", post(query))
     .route("/string", post(string))
     .route("/bytes", post(bytes))
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ use axum::{
 use uuid::Uuid;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
-let app = Router::new().route("/users/:id/things", get(get_user_things));
+let app = Router::new().route("/users/{id}/things", get(get_user_things));
 
 #[derive(Deserialize)]
 struct Pagination {
diff --git a/axum/src/docs/routing/merge.md b/axum/src/docs/routing/merge.md
index e8f668712e..ddea660879 100644
--- a/axum/src/docs/routing/merge.md
+++ b/axum/src/docs/routing/merge.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use axum::{
 // define some routes separately
 let user_routes = Router::new()
     .route("/users", get(users_list))
-    .route("/users/:id", get(users_show));
+    .route("/users/{id}", get(users_show));
 
 let team_routes = Router::new()
     .route("/teams", get(teams_list));
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ let app = Router::new()
 
 // Our app now accepts
 // - GET /users
-// - GET /users/:id
+// - GET /users/{id}
 // - GET /teams
 # let _: Router = app;
 ```
diff --git a/axum/src/docs/routing/nest.md b/axum/src/docs/routing/nest.md
index 845072f021..bb5b2ea6cb 100644
--- a/axum/src/docs/routing/nest.md
+++ b/axum/src/docs/routing/nest.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use axum::{
     Router,
 };
 
-let user_routes = Router::new().route("/:id", get(|| async {}));
+let user_routes = Router::new().route("/{id}", get(|| async {}));
 
 let team_routes = Router::new().route("/", post(|| async {}));
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ let api_routes = Router::new()
 let app = Router::new().nest("/api", api_routes);
 
 // Our app now accepts
-// - GET /api/users/:id
+// - GET /api/users/{id}
 // - POST /api/teams
 # let _: Router = app;
 ```
@@ -54,9 +54,9 @@ async fn users_get(Path(params): Path<HashMap<String, String>>) {
     let id = params.get("id");
 }
 
-let users_api = Router::new().route("/users/:id", get(users_get));
+let users_api = Router::new().route("/users/{id}", get(users_get));
 
-let app = Router::new().nest("/:version/api", users_api);
+let app = Router::new().nest("/{version}/api", users_api);
 # let _: Router = app;
 ```
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ let nested_router = Router::new()
     }));
 
 let app = Router::new()
-    .route("/foo/*rest", get(|uri: Uri| async {
+    .route("/foo/{*rest}", get(|uri: Uri| async {
         // `uri` will contain `/foo`
     }))
     .nest("/bar", nested_router);
diff --git a/axum/src/docs/routing/route.md b/axum/src/docs/routing/route.md
index e8172137bb..01be9152ed 100644
--- a/axum/src/docs/routing/route.md
+++ b/axum/src/docs/routing/route.md
@@ -20,15 +20,15 @@ be called.
 
 # Captures
 
-Paths can contain segments like `/:key` which matches any single segment and
+Paths can contain segments like `/{key}` which matches any single segment and
 will store the value captured at `key`. The value captured can be zero-length
 except for in the invalid path `//`.
 
 Examples:
 
-- `/:key`
-- `/users/:id`
-- `/users/:id/tweets`
+- `/{key}`
+- `/users/{id}`
+- `/users/{id}/tweets`
 
 Captures can be extracted using [`Path`](crate::extract::Path). See its
 documentation for more details.
@@ -41,19 +41,19 @@ path rather than the actual path.
 
 # Wildcards
 
-Paths can end in `/*key` which matches all segments and will store the segments
+Paths can end in `/{*key}` which matches all segments and will store the segments
 captured at `key`.
 
 Examples:
 
-- `/*key`
-- `/assets/*path`
-- `/:id/:repo/*tree`
+- `/{*key}`
+- `/assets/{*path}`
+- `/{id}/{repo}/{*tree}`
 
-Note that `/*key` doesn't match empty segments. Thus:
+Note that `/{*key}` doesn't match empty segments. Thus:
 
-- `/*key` doesn't match `/` but does match `/a`, `/a/`, etc.
-- `/x/*key` doesn't match `/x` or `/x/` but does match `/x/a`, `/x/a/`, etc.
+- `/{*key}` doesn't match `/` but does match `/a`, `/a/`, etc.
+- `/x/{*key}` doesn't match `/x` or `/x/` but does match `/x/a`, `/x/a/`, etc.
 
 Wildcard captures can also be extracted using [`Path`](crate::extract::Path):
 
@@ -64,14 +64,14 @@ use axum::{
     extract::Path,
 };
 
-let app: Router = Router::new().route("/*key", get(handler));
+let app: Router = Router::new().route("/{*key}", get(handler));
 
 async fn handler(Path(path): Path<String>) -> String {
     path
 }
 ```
 
-Note that the leading slash is not included, i.e. for the route `/foo/*rest` and
+Note that the leading slash is not included, i.e. for the route `/foo/{*rest}` and
 the path `/foo/bar/baz` the value of `rest` will be `bar/baz`.
 
 # Accepting multiple methods
@@ -120,9 +120,9 @@ use axum::{Router, routing::{get, delete}, extract::Path};
 let app = Router::new()
     .route("/", get(root))
     .route("/users", get(list_users).post(create_user))
-    .route("/users/:id", get(show_user))
-    .route("/api/:version/users/:id/action", delete(do_users_action))
-    .route("/assets/*path", get(serve_asset));
+    .route("/users/{id}", get(show_user))
+    .route("/api/{version}/users/{id}/action", delete(do_users_action))
+    .route("/assets/{*path}", get(serve_asset));
 
 async fn root() {}
 
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ let app = Router::new()
 # let _: Router = app;
 ```
 
-The static route `/foo` and the dynamic route `/:key` are not considered to
+The static route `/foo` and the dynamic route `/{key}` are not considered to
 overlap and `/foo` will take precedence.
 
 Also panics if `path` is empty.
diff --git a/axum/src/docs/routing/without_v07_checks.md b/axum/src/docs/routing/without_v07_checks.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f1b465ea9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/axum/src/docs/routing/without_v07_checks.md
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+Turn off checks for compatibility with route matching syntax from 0.7.
+
+This allows usage of paths starting with a colon `:` or an asterisk `*` which are otherwise prohibited.
+
+# Example
+
+```rust
+use axum::{
+    routing::get,
+    Router,
+};
+
+let app = Router::<()>::new()
+    .without_v07_checks()
+    .route("/:colon", get(|| async {}))
+    .route("/*asterisk", get(|| async {}));
+
+// Our app now accepts
+// - GET /:colon
+// - GET /*asterisk
+# let _: Router = app;
+```
+
+Adding such routes without calling this method first will panic.
+
+```rust,should_panic
+use axum::{
+    routing::get,
+    Router,
+};
+
+// This panics...
+let app = Router::<()>::new()
+    .route("/:colon", get(|| async {}));
+```
+
+# Merging
+
+When two routers are merged, v0.7 checks are disabled for route registrations on the resulting router if both of the two routers had them also disabled.
+
+# Nesting
+
+Each router needs to have the checks explicitly disabled. Nesting a router with the checks either enabled or disabled has no effect on the outer router.
diff --git a/axum/src/extract/matched_path.rs b/axum/src/extract/matched_path.rs
index 99599a9c10..8fdd8e35a9 100644
--- a/axum/src/extract/matched_path.rs
+++ b/axum/src/extract/matched_path.rs
@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@ use std::{collections::HashMap, sync::Arc};
 /// };
 ///
 /// let app = Router::new().route(
-///     "/users/:id",
+///     "/users/{id}",
 ///     get(|path: MatchedPath| async move {
 ///         let path = path.as_str();
-///         // `path` will be "/users/:id"
+///         // `path` will be "/users/{id}"
 ///     })
 /// );
 /// # let _: Router = app;
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ use std::{collections::HashMap, sync::Arc};
 /// use tower_http::trace::TraceLayer;
 ///
 /// let app = Router::new()
-///     .route("/users/:id", get(|| async { /* ... */ }))
+///     .route("/users/{id}", get(|| async { /* ... */ }))
 ///     .layer(
 ///         TraceLayer::new_for_http().make_span_with(|req: &Request<_>| {
 ///             let path = if let Some(path) = req.extensions().get::<MatchedPath>() {
@@ -141,22 +141,22 @@ mod tests {
     #[crate::test]
     async fn extracting_on_handler() {
         let app = Router::new().route(
-            "/:a",
+            "/{a}",
             get(|path: MatchedPath| async move { path.as_str().to_owned() }),
         );
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
         let res = client.get("/foo").await;
-        assert_eq!(res.text().await, "/:a");
+        assert_eq!(res.text().await, "/{a}");
     }
 
     #[crate::test]
     async fn extracting_on_handler_in_nested_router() {
         let app = Router::new().nest(
-            "/:a",
+            "/{a}",
             Router::new().route(
-                "/:b",
+                "/{b}",
                 get(|path: MatchedPath| async move { path.as_str().to_owned() }),
             ),
         );
@@ -164,17 +164,17 @@ mod tests {
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
         let res = client.get("/foo/bar").await;
-        assert_eq!(res.text().await, "/:a/:b");
+        assert_eq!(res.text().await, "/{a}/{b}");
     }
 
     #[crate::test]
     async fn extracting_on_handler_in_deeply_nested_router() {
         let app = Router::new().nest(
-            "/:a",
+            "/{a}",
             Router::new().nest(
-                "/:b",
+                "/{b}",
                 Router::new().route(
-                    "/:c",
+                    "/{c}",
                     get(|path: MatchedPath| async move { path.as_str().to_owned() }),
                 ),
             ),
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ mod tests {
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
         let res = client.get("/foo/bar/baz").await;
-        assert_eq!(res.text().await, "/:a/:b/:c");
+        assert_eq!(res.text().await, "/{a}/{b}/{c}");
     }
 
     #[crate::test]
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ mod tests {
         }
 
         let app = Router::new()
-            .nest_service("/:a", Router::new().route("/:b", get(|| async move {})))
+            .nest_service("/{a}", Router::new().route("/{b}", get(|| async move {})))
             .layer(map_request(extract_matched_path));
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
@@ -212,12 +212,12 @@ mod tests {
             matched_path: Option<MatchedPath>,
             req: Request<B>,
         ) -> Request<B> {
-            assert_eq!(matched_path.unwrap().as_str(), "/:a/:b");
+            assert_eq!(matched_path.unwrap().as_str(), "/{a}/{b}");
             req
         }
 
         let app = Router::new()
-            .nest("/:a", Router::new().route("/:b", get(|| async move {})))
+            .nest("/{a}", Router::new().route("/{b}", get(|| async move {})))
             .layer(map_request(extract_matched_path));
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ mod tests {
         }
 
         let app = Router::new()
-            .nest_service("/:a", Router::new().route("/:b", get(|| async move {})))
+            .nest_service("/{a}", Router::new().route("/{b}", get(|| async move {})))
             .layer(map_request(assert_no_matched_path));
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ mod tests {
         }
 
         let app = Router::new()
-            .nest("/:a", Router::new().route("/:b", get(|| async move {})))
+            .nest("/{a}", Router::new().route("/{b}", get(|| async move {})))
             .layer(map_request(assert_matched_path));
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
@@ -263,14 +263,14 @@ mod tests {
     #[crate::test]
     async fn can_extract_nested_matched_path_in_middleware_on_nested_router() {
         async fn extract_matched_path<B>(matched_path: MatchedPath, req: Request<B>) -> Request<B> {
-            assert_eq!(matched_path.as_str(), "/:a/:b");
+            assert_eq!(matched_path.as_str(), "/{a}/{b}");
             req
         }
 
         let app = Router::new().nest(
-            "/:a",
+            "/{a}",
             Router::new()
-                .route("/:b", get(|| async move {}))
+                .route("/{b}", get(|| async move {}))
                 .layer(map_request(extract_matched_path)),
         );
 
@@ -284,14 +284,14 @@ mod tests {
     async fn can_extract_nested_matched_path_in_middleware_on_nested_router_via_extension() {
         async fn extract_matched_path<B>(req: Request<B>) -> Request<B> {
             let matched_path = req.extensions().get::<MatchedPath>().unwrap();
-            assert_eq!(matched_path.as_str(), "/:a/:b");
+            assert_eq!(matched_path.as_str(), "/{a}/{b}");
             req
         }
 
         let app = Router::new().nest(
-            "/:a",
+            "/{a}",
             Router::new()
-                .route("/:b", get(|| async move {}))
+                .route("/{b}", get(|| async move {}))
                 .layer(map_request(extract_matched_path)),
         );
 
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ mod tests {
             assert!(path.is_none());
         }
 
-        let app = Router::new().nest_service("/:a", handler.into_service());
+        let app = Router::new().nest_service("/{a}", handler.into_service());
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ mod tests {
         use tower::ServiceExt;
 
         let app = Router::new().route(
-            "/*path",
+            "/{*path}",
             any(|req: Request| {
                 Router::new()
                     .nest("/", Router::new().route("/foo", get(|| async {})))
@@ -349,4 +349,44 @@ mod tests {
         let res = client.get("/foo/bar").await;
         assert_eq!(res.status(), StatusCode::OK);
     }
+
+    #[crate::test]
+    async fn matching_colon() {
+        let app = Router::new().without_v07_checks().route(
+            "/:foo",
+            get(|path: MatchedPath| async move { path.as_str().to_owned() }),
+        );
+
+        let client = TestClient::new(app);
+
+        let res = client.get("/:foo").await;
+        assert_eq!(res.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+        assert_eq!(res.text().await, "/:foo");
+
+        let res = client.get("/:bar").await;
+        assert_eq!(res.status(), StatusCode::NOT_FOUND);
+
+        let res = client.get("/foo").await;
+        assert_eq!(res.status(), StatusCode::NOT_FOUND);
+    }
+
+    #[crate::test]
+    async fn matching_asterisk() {
+        let app = Router::new().without_v07_checks().route(
+            "/*foo",
+            get(|path: MatchedPath| async move { path.as_str().to_owned() }),
+        );
+
+        let client = TestClient::new(app);
+
+        let res = client.get("/*foo").await;
+        assert_eq!(res.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+        assert_eq!(res.text().await, "/*foo");
+
+        let res = client.get("/*bar").await;
+        assert_eq!(res.status(), StatusCode::NOT_FOUND);
+
+        let res = client.get("/foo").await;
+        assert_eq!(res.status(), StatusCode::NOT_FOUND);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/axum/src/extract/path/mod.rs b/axum/src/extract/path/mod.rs
index d6b9fb128e..a6779a5644 100644
--- a/axum/src/extract/path/mod.rs
+++ b/axum/src/extract/path/mod.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ use std::{fmt, sync::Arc};
 ///     // ...
 /// }
 ///
-/// let app = Router::new().route("/users/:user_id/team/:team_id", get(users_teams_show));
+/// let app = Router::new().route("/users/{user_id}/team/{team_id}", get(users_teams_show));
 /// # let _: Router = app;
 /// ```
 ///
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ use std::{fmt, sync::Arc};
 ///     // ...
 /// }
 ///
-/// let app = Router::new().route("/users/:user_id", get(user_info));
+/// let app = Router::new().route("/users/{user_id}", get(user_info));
 /// # let _: Router = app;
 /// ```
 ///
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ use std::{fmt, sync::Arc};
 /// }
 ///
 /// let app = Router::new().route(
-///     "/users/:user_id/team/:team_id",
+///     "/users/{user_id}/team/{team_id}",
 ///     get(users_teams_show).post(users_teams_create),
 /// );
 /// # let _: Router = app;
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ use std::{fmt, sync::Arc};
 /// }
 ///
 /// let app = Router::new()
-///     .route("/users/:user_id/team/:team_id", get(params_map).post(params_vec));
+///     .route("/users/{user_id}/team/{team_id}", get(params_map).post(params_vec));
 /// # let _: Router = app;
 /// ```
 ///
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ impl std::error::Error for FailedToDeserializePathParams {}
 ///     }
 /// }
 ///
-/// let app = Router::new().route("/users/:user_id/team/:team_id", get(users_teams_show));
+/// let app = Router::new().route("/users/{user_id}/team/{team_id}", get(users_teams_show));
 /// # let _: Router = app;
 /// ```
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[crate::test]
     async fn extracting_url_params() {
         let app = Router::new().route(
-            "/users/:id",
+            "/users/{id}",
             get(|Path(id): Path<i32>| async move {
                 assert_eq!(id, 42);
             })
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[crate::test]
     async fn extracting_url_params_multiple_times() {
-        let app = Router::new().route("/users/:id", get(|_: Path<i32>, _: Path<String>| async {}));
+        let app = Router::new().route("/users/{id}", get(|_: Path<i32>, _: Path<String>| async {}));
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[crate::test]
     async fn percent_decoding() {
         let app = Router::new().route(
-            "/:key",
+            "/{key}",
             get(|Path(param): Path<String>| async move { param }),
         );
 
@@ -594,11 +594,11 @@ mod tests {
     async fn supports_128_bit_numbers() {
         let app = Router::new()
             .route(
-                "/i/:key",
+                "/i/{key}",
                 get(|Path(param): Path<i128>| async move { param.to_string() }),
             )
             .route(
-                "/u/:key",
+                "/u/{key}",
                 get(|Path(param): Path<u128>| async move { param.to_string() }),
             );
 
@@ -615,11 +615,11 @@ mod tests {
     async fn wildcard() {
         let app = Router::new()
             .route(
-                "/foo/*rest",
+                "/foo/{*rest}",
                 get(|Path(param): Path<String>| async move { param }),
             )
             .route(
-                "/bar/*rest",
+                "/bar/{*rest}",
                 get(|Path(params): Path<HashMap<String, String>>| async move {
                     params.get("rest").unwrap().clone()
                 }),
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[crate::test]
     async fn captures_dont_match_empty_path() {
-        let app = Router::new().route("/:key", get(|| async {}));
+        let app = Router::new().route("/{key}", get(|| async {}));
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[crate::test]
     async fn captures_match_empty_inner_segments() {
         let app = Router::new().route(
-            "/:key/method",
+            "/{key}/method",
             get(|Path(param): Path<String>| async move { param.to_string() }),
         );
 
@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[crate::test]
     async fn captures_match_empty_inner_segments_near_end() {
         let app = Router::new().route(
-            "/method/:key/",
+            "/method/{key}/",
             get(|Path(param): Path<String>| async move { param.to_string() }),
         );
 
@@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[crate::test]
     async fn captures_match_empty_trailing_segment() {
         let app = Router::new().route(
-            "/method/:key",
+            "/method/{key}",
             get(|Path(param): Path<String>| async move { param.to_string() }),
         );
 
@@ -717,7 +717,10 @@ mod tests {
             }
         }
 
-        let app = Router::new().route("/:key", get(|param: Path<Param>| async move { param.0 .0 }));
+        let app = Router::new().route(
+            "/{key}",
+            get(|param: Path<Param>| async move { param.0 .0 }),
+        );
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
@@ -731,7 +734,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[crate::test]
     async fn two_path_extractors() {
-        let app = Router::new().route("/:a/:b", get(|_: Path<String>, _: Path<String>| async {}));
+        let app = Router::new().route("/{a}/{b}", get(|_: Path<String>, _: Path<String>| async {}));
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
@@ -774,7 +777,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[crate::test]
     async fn deserialize_into_vec_of_tuples() {
         let app = Router::new().route(
-            "/:a/:b",
+            "/{a}/{b}",
             get(|Path(params): Path<Vec<(String, String)>>| async move {
                 assert_eq!(
                     params,
@@ -805,31 +808,31 @@ mod tests {
 
         let app = Router::new()
             .route(
-                "/single/:a",
+                "/single/{a}",
                 get(|Path(a): Path<Date>| async move { format!("single: {a}") }),
             )
             .route(
-                "/tuple/:a/:b/:c",
+                "/tuple/{a}/{b}/{c}",
                 get(|Path((a, b, c)): Path<(Date, Date, Date)>| async move {
                     format!("tuple: {a} {b} {c}")
                 }),
             )
             .route(
-                "/vec/:a/:b/:c",
+                "/vec/{a}/{b}/{c}",
                 get(|Path(vec): Path<Vec<Date>>| async move {
                     let [a, b, c]: [Date; 3] = vec.try_into().unwrap();
                     format!("vec: {a} {b} {c}")
                 }),
             )
             .route(
-                "/vec_pairs/:a/:b/:c",
+                "/vec_pairs/{a}/{b}/{c}",
                 get(|Path(vec): Path<Vec<(String, Date)>>| async move {
                     let [(_, a), (_, b), (_, c)]: [(String, Date); 3] = vec.try_into().unwrap();
                     format!("vec_pairs: {a} {b} {c}")
                 }),
             )
             .route(
-                "/map/:a/:b/:c",
+                "/map/{a}/{b}/{c}",
                 get(|Path(mut map): Path<HashMap<String, Date>>| async move {
                     let a = map.remove("a").unwrap();
                     let b = map.remove("b").unwrap();
@@ -838,7 +841,7 @@ mod tests {
                 }),
             )
             .route(
-                "/struct/:a/:b/:c",
+                "/struct/{a}/{b}/{c}",
                 get(|Path(params): Path<Params>| async move {
                     format!("struct: {} {} {}", params.a, params.b, params.c)
                 }),
@@ -875,8 +878,8 @@ mod tests {
         use serde_json::Value;
 
         let app = Router::new()
-            .route("/one/:a", get(|_: Path<(Value, Value)>| async {}))
-            .route("/two/:a/:b", get(|_: Path<Value>| async {}));
+            .route("/one/{a}", get(|_: Path<(Value, Value)>| async {}))
+            .route("/two/{a}/{b}", get(|_: Path<Value>| async {}));
 
         let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
@@ -896,7 +899,7 @@ mod tests {
     #[crate::test]
     async fn raw_path_params() {
         let app = Router::new().route(
-            "/:a/:b/:c",
+            "/{a}/{b}/{c}",
             get(|params: RawPathParams| async move {
                 params
                     .into_iter()
diff --git a/axum/src/extract/request_parts.rs b/axum/src/extract/request_parts.rs
index 6ad0c7ac3b..6d9adc672c 100644
--- a/axum/src/extract/request_parts.rs
+++ b/axum/src/extract/request_parts.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ use std::convert::Infallible;
 /// use tower_http::trace::TraceLayer;
 ///
 /// let api_routes = Router::new()
-///     .route("/users/:id", get(|| async { /* ... */ }))
+///     .route("/users/{id}", get(|| async { /* ... */ }))
 ///     .layer(
 ///         TraceLayer::new_for_http().make_span_with(|req: &Request<_>| {
 ///             let path = if let Some(path) = req.extensions().get::<OriginalUri>() {
diff --git a/axum/src/json.rs b/axum/src/json.rs
index d18e6ffe05..a2dfdc2eeb 100644
--- a/axum/src/json.rs
+++ b/axum/src/json.rs
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ use serde::{de::DeserializeOwned, Serialize};
 ///     # unimplemented!()
 /// }
 ///
-/// let app = Router::new().route("/users/:id", get(get_user));
+/// let app = Router::new().route("/users/{id}", get(get_user));
 /// # let _: Router = app;
 /// ```
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Default)]
diff --git a/axum/src/lib.rs b/axum/src/lib.rs
index 27b87e907f..fcc929a6ab 100644
--- a/axum/src/lib.rs
+++ b/axum/src/lib.rs
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@
 //!         }),
 //!     )
 //!     .route(
-//!         "/users/:id",
+//!         "/users/{id}",
 //!         get({
 //!             let shared_state = Arc::clone(&shared_state);
 //!             move |path| get_user(path, shared_state)
diff --git a/axum/src/routing/mod.rs b/axum/src/routing/mod.rs
index 4bd8b28bdf..c9fcc0a7e1 100644
--- a/axum/src/routing/mod.rs
+++ b/axum/src/routing/mod.rs
@@ -99,9 +99,9 @@ impl<S> fmt::Debug for Router<S> {
 }
 
 pub(crate) const NEST_TAIL_PARAM: &str = "__private__axum_nest_tail_param";
-pub(crate) const NEST_TAIL_PARAM_CAPTURE: &str = "/*__private__axum_nest_tail_param";
+pub(crate) const NEST_TAIL_PARAM_CAPTURE: &str = "/{*__private__axum_nest_tail_param}";
 pub(crate) const FALLBACK_PARAM: &str = "__private__axum_fallback";
-pub(crate) const FALLBACK_PARAM_PATH: &str = "/*__private__axum_fallback";
+pub(crate) const FALLBACK_PARAM_PATH: &str = "/{*__private__axum_fallback}";
 
 impl<S> Router<S>
 where
@@ -154,6 +154,13 @@ where
         }
     }
 
+    #[doc = include_str!("../docs/routing/without_v07_checks.md")]
+    pub fn without_v07_checks(self) -> Self {
+        self.tap_inner_mut(|this| {
+            this.path_router.without_v07_checks();
+        })
+    }
+
     #[doc = include_str!("../docs/routing/route.md")]
     #[track_caller]
     pub fn route(self, path: &str, method_router: MethodRouter<S>) -> Self {
diff --git a/axum/src/routing/path_router.rs b/axum/src/routing/path_router.rs
index 6a7d3cee4b..32b3102575 100644
--- a/axum/src/routing/path_router.rs
+++ b/axum/src/routing/path_router.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ pub(super) struct PathRouter<S, const IS_FALLBACK: bool> {
     routes: HashMap<RouteId, Endpoint<S>>,
     node: Arc<Node>,
     prev_route_id: RouteId,
+    v7_checks: bool,
 }
 
 impl<S> PathRouter<S, true>
@@ -32,26 +33,56 @@ where
     }
 }
 
+fn validate_path(v7_checks: bool, path: &str) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
+    if path.is_empty() {
+        return Err("Paths must start with a `/`. Use \"/\" for root routes");
+    } else if !path.starts_with('/') {
+        return Err("Paths must start with a `/`");
+    }
+
+    if v7_checks {
+        validate_v07_paths(path)?;
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn validate_v07_paths(path: &str) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
+    path.split('/')
+        .find_map(|segment| {
+            if segment.starts_with(':') {
+                Some(Err(
+                    "Path segments must not start with `:`. For capture groups, use \
+                `{capture}`. If you meant to literally match a segment starting with \
+                a colon, call `without_v07_checks` on the router.",
+                ))
+            } else if segment.starts_with('*') {
+                Some(Err(
+                    "Path segments must not start with `*`. For wildcard capture, use \
+                `{*wildcard}`. If you meant to literally match a segment starting with \
+                an asterisk, call `without_v07_checks` on the router.",
+                ))
+            } else {
+                None
+            }
+        })
+        .unwrap_or(Ok(()))
+}
+
 impl<S, const IS_FALLBACK: bool> PathRouter<S, IS_FALLBACK>
 where
     S: Clone + Send + Sync + 'static,
 {
+    pub(super) fn without_v07_checks(&mut self) {
+        self.v7_checks = false;
+    }
+
     pub(super) fn route(
         &mut self,
         path: &str,
         method_router: MethodRouter<S>,
     ) -> Result<(), Cow<'static, str>> {
-        fn validate_path(path: &str) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
-            if path.is_empty() {
-                return Err("Paths must start with a `/`. Use \"/\" for root routes");
-            } else if !path.starts_with('/') {
-                return Err("Paths must start with a `/`");
-            }
-
-            Ok(())
-        }
-
-        validate_path(path)?;
+        validate_path(self.v7_checks, path)?;
 
         let endpoint = if let Some((route_id, Endpoint::MethodRouter(prev_method_router))) = self
             .node
@@ -97,11 +128,7 @@ where
         path: &str,
         endpoint: Endpoint<S>,
     ) -> Result<(), Cow<'static, str>> {
-        if path.is_empty() {
-            return Err("Paths must start with a `/`. Use \"/\" for root routes".into());
-        } else if !path.starts_with('/') {
-            return Err("Paths must start with a `/`".into());
-        }
+        validate_path(self.v7_checks, path)?;
 
         let id = self.next_route_id();
         self.set_node(path, id)?;
@@ -125,8 +152,12 @@ where
             routes,
             node,
             prev_route_id: _,
+            v7_checks,
         } = other;
 
+        // If either of the two did not allow paths starting with `:` or `*`, do not allow them for the merged router either.
+        self.v7_checks |= v7_checks;
+
         for (id, route) in routes {
             let path = node
                 .route_id_to_path
@@ -162,12 +193,14 @@ where
         path_to_nest_at: &str,
         router: PathRouter<S, IS_FALLBACK>,
     ) -> Result<(), Cow<'static, str>> {
-        let prefix = validate_nest_path(path_to_nest_at);
+        let prefix = validate_nest_path(self.v7_checks, path_to_nest_at);
 
         let PathRouter {
             routes,
             node,
             prev_route_id: _,
+            // Ignore the configuration of the nested router
+            v7_checks: _,
         } = router;
 
         for (id, endpoint) in routes {
@@ -205,13 +238,13 @@ where
         T::Response: IntoResponse,
         T::Future: Send + 'static,
     {
-        let path = validate_nest_path(path_to_nest_at);
+        let path = validate_nest_path(self.v7_checks, path_to_nest_at);
         let prefix = path;
 
         let path = if path.ends_with('/') {
-            format!("{path}*{NEST_TAIL_PARAM}")
+            format!("{path}{{*{NEST_TAIL_PARAM}}}")
         } else {
-            format!("{path}/*{NEST_TAIL_PARAM}")
+            format!("{path}/{{*{NEST_TAIL_PARAM}}}")
         };
 
         let layer = (
@@ -222,7 +255,7 @@ where
 
         self.route_endpoint(&path, endpoint.clone())?;
 
-        // `/*rest` is not matched by `/` so we need to also register a router at the
+        // `/{*rest}` is not matched by `/` so we need to also register a router at the
         // prefix itself. Otherwise if you were to nest at `/foo` then `/foo` itself
         // wouldn't match, which it should
         self.route_endpoint(prefix, endpoint.clone())?;
@@ -255,6 +288,7 @@ where
             routes,
             node: self.node,
             prev_route_id: self.prev_route_id,
+            v7_checks: self.v7_checks,
         }
     }
 
@@ -287,6 +321,7 @@ where
             routes,
             node: self.node,
             prev_route_id: self.prev_route_id,
+            v7_checks: self.v7_checks,
         }
     }
 
@@ -313,6 +348,7 @@ where
             routes,
             node: self.node,
             prev_route_id: self.prev_route_id,
+            v7_checks: self.v7_checks,
         }
     }
 
@@ -362,11 +398,7 @@ where
             }
             // explicitly handle all variants in case matchit adds
             // new ones we need to handle differently
-            Err(
-                MatchError::NotFound
-                | MatchError::ExtraTrailingSlash
-                | MatchError::MissingTrailingSlash,
-            ) => Err((req, state)),
+            Err(MatchError::NotFound) => Err((req, state)),
         }
     }
 
@@ -399,6 +431,7 @@ impl<S, const IS_FALLBACK: bool> Default for PathRouter<S, IS_FALLBACK> {
             routes: Default::default(),
             node: Default::default(),
             prev_route_id: RouteId(0),
+            v7_checks: true,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -418,6 +451,7 @@ impl<S, const IS_FALLBACK: bool> Clone for PathRouter<S, IS_FALLBACK> {
             routes: self.routes.clone(),
             node: self.node.clone(),
             prev_route_id: self.prev_route_id,
+            v7_checks: self.v7_checks,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -464,16 +498,22 @@ impl fmt::Debug for Node {
 }
 
 #[track_caller]
-fn validate_nest_path(path: &str) -> &str {
+fn validate_nest_path(v7_checks: bool, path: &str) -> &str {
     if path.is_empty() {
         // nesting at `""` and `"/"` should mean the same thing
         return "/";
     }
 
-    if path.contains('*') {
+    if path.split('/').any(|segment| {
+        segment.starts_with("{*") && segment.ends_with('}') && !segment.ends_with("}}")
+    }) {
         panic!("Invalid route: nested routes cannot contain wildcards (*)");
     }
 
+    if v7_checks {
+        validate_v07_paths(path).unwrap();
+    }
+
     path
 }
 
diff --git a/axum/src/routing/strip_prefix.rs b/axum/src/routing/strip_prefix.rs
index ff8f04c390..3209da3b12 100644
--- a/axum/src/routing/strip_prefix.rs
+++ b/axum/src/routing/strip_prefix.rs
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ fn strip_prefix(uri: &Uri, prefix: &str) -> Option<Uri> {
     //          ^^^^ this much is matched and the length is 4. Thus if we chop off the first 4
     //          characters we get the remainder
     //
-    // prefix = /api/:version
+    // prefix = /api/{version}
     // path   = /api/v0/users
     //          ^^^^^^^ this much is matched and the length is 7.
     let mut matching_prefix_length = Some(0);
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ fn strip_prefix(uri: &Uri, prefix: &str) -> Option<Uri> {
 
         match item {
             Item::Both(path_segment, prefix_segment) => {
-                if prefix_segment.starts_with(':') || path_segment == prefix_segment {
+                if is_capture(prefix_segment) || path_segment == prefix_segment {
                     // the prefix segment is either a param, which matches anything, or
                     // it actually matches the path segment
                     *matching_prefix_length.as_mut().unwrap() += path_segment.len();
@@ -148,6 +148,14 @@ where
     })
 }
 
+fn is_capture(segment: &str) -> bool {
+    segment.starts_with('{')
+        && segment.ends_with('}')
+        && !segment.starts_with("{{")
+        && !segment.ends_with("}}")
+        && !segment.starts_with("{*")
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug)]
 enum Item<T> {
     Both(T, T),
@@ -279,74 +287,89 @@ mod tests {
         expected = Some("/"),
     );
 
-    test!(param_0, uri = "/", prefix = "/:param", expected = Some("/"),);
+    test!(
+        param_0,
+        uri = "/",
+        prefix = "/{param}",
+        expected = Some("/"),
+    );
 
     test!(
         param_1,
         uri = "/a",
-        prefix = "/:param",
+        prefix = "/{param}",
         expected = Some("/"),
     );
 
     test!(
         param_2,
         uri = "/a/b",
-        prefix = "/:param",
+        prefix = "/{param}",
         expected = Some("/b"),
     );
 
     test!(
         param_3,
         uri = "/b/a",
-        prefix = "/:param",
+        prefix = "/{param}",
         expected = Some("/a"),
     );
 
     test!(
         param_4,
         uri = "/a/b",
-        prefix = "/a/:param",
+        prefix = "/a/{param}",
         expected = Some("/"),
     );
 
-    test!(param_5, uri = "/b/a", prefix = "/a/:param", expected = None,);
+    test!(
+        param_5,
+        uri = "/b/a",
+        prefix = "/a/{param}",
+        expected = None,
+    );
 
-    test!(param_6, uri = "/a/b", prefix = "/:param/a", expected = None,);
+    test!(
+        param_6,
+        uri = "/a/b",
+        prefix = "/{param}/a",
+        expected = None,
+    );
 
     test!(
         param_7,
         uri = "/b/a",
-        prefix = "/:param/a",
+        prefix = "/{param}/a",
         expected = Some("/"),
     );
 
     test!(
         param_8,
         uri = "/a/b/c",
-        prefix = "/a/:param/c",
+        prefix = "/a/{param}/c",
         expected = Some("/"),
     );
 
     test!(
         param_9,
         uri = "/c/b/a",
-        prefix = "/a/:param/c",
+        prefix = "/a/{param}/c",
         expected = None,
     );
 
     test!(
         param_10,
         uri = "/a/",
-        prefix = "/:param",
+        prefix = "/{param}",
         expected = Some("/"),
     );
 
-    test!(param_11, uri = "/a", prefix = "/:param/", expected = None,);
+    test!(param_11, uri = "/a", prefix = "/{param}/", expected = None,);
 
     test!(
         param_12,
         uri = "/a/",
-        prefix = "/:param/",
+        prefix = "/{param}/",
         expected = Some("/"),
     );
 
diff --git a/axum/src/routing/tests/mod.rs b/axum/src/routing/tests/mod.rs
index 978125d0a0..db5ca480da 100644
--- a/axum/src/routing/tests/mod.rs
+++ b/axum/src/routing/tests/mod.rs
@@ -83,9 +83,9 @@ async fn routing() {
             "/users",
             get(|_: Request| async { "users#index" }).post(|_: Request| async { "users#create" }),
         )
-        .route("/users/:id", get(|_: Request| async { "users#show" }))
+        .route("/users/{id}", get(|_: Request| async { "users#show" }))
         .route(
-            "/users/:id/action",
+            "/users/{id}/action",
             get(|_: Request| async { "users#action" }),
         );
 
@@ -289,7 +289,10 @@ async fn multiple_methods_for_one_handler() {
 
 #[crate::test]
 async fn wildcard_sees_whole_url() {
-    let app = Router::new().route("/api/*rest", get(|uri: Uri| async move { uri.to_string() }));
+    let app = Router::new().route(
+        "/api/{*rest}",
+        get(|uri: Uri| async move { uri.to_string() }),
+    );
 
     let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
@@ -357,7 +360,7 @@ async fn with_and_without_trailing_slash() {
 #[crate::test]
 async fn wildcard_doesnt_match_just_trailing_slash() {
     let app = Router::new().route(
-        "/x/*path",
+        "/x/{*path}",
         get(|Path(path): Path<String>| async move { path }),
     );
 
@@ -377,8 +380,8 @@ async fn wildcard_doesnt_match_just_trailing_slash() {
 #[crate::test]
 async fn what_matches_wildcard() {
     let app = Router::new()
-        .route("/*key", get(|| async { "root" }))
-        .route("/x/*key", get(|| async { "x" }))
+        .route("/{*key}", get(|| async { "root" }))
+        .route("/x/{*key}", get(|| async { "x" }))
         .fallback(|| async { "fallback" });
 
     let client = TestClient::new(app);
@@ -406,7 +409,7 @@ async fn what_matches_wildcard() {
 async fn static_and_dynamic_paths() {
     let app = Router::new()
         .route(
-            "/:key",
+            "/{key}",
             get(|Path(key): Path<String>| async move { format!("dynamic: {key}") }),
         )
         .route("/foo", get(|| async { "static" }));
@@ -1054,3 +1057,19 @@ async fn impl_handler_for_into_response() {
     assert_eq!(res.status(), StatusCode::CREATED);
     assert_eq!(res.text().await, "thing created");
 }
+
+#[crate::test]
+#[should_panic(
+    expected = "Path segments must not start with `:`. For capture groups, use `{capture}`. If you meant to literally match a segment starting with a colon, call `without_v07_checks` on the router."
+)]
+async fn colon_in_route() {
+    _ = Router::<()>::new().route("/:foo", get(|| async move {}));
+}
+
+#[crate::test]
+#[should_panic(
+    expected = "Path segments must not start with `*`. For wildcard capture, use `{*wildcard}`. If you meant to literally match a segment starting with an asterisk, call `without_v07_checks` on the router."
+)]
+async fn asterisk_in_route() {
+    _ = Router::<()>::new().route("/*foo", get(|| async move {}));
+}
diff --git a/axum/src/routing/tests/nest.rs b/axum/src/routing/tests/nest.rs
index 40df1f1ad8..1aa1dcd703 100644
--- a/axum/src/routing/tests/nest.rs
+++ b/axum/src/routing/tests/nest.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ async fn nesting_apps() {
             get(|| async { "users#index" }).post(|| async { "users#create" }),
         )
         .route(
-            "/users/:id",
+            "/users/{id}",
             get(
                 |params: extract::Path<HashMap<String, String>>| async move {
                     format!(
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ async fn nesting_apps() {
             ),
         )
         .route(
-            "/games/:id",
+            "/games/{id}",
             get(
                 |params: extract::Path<HashMap<String, String>>| async move {
                     format!(
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ async fn nesting_apps() {
 
     let app = Router::new()
         .route("/", get(|| async { "hi" }))
-        .nest("/:version/api", api_routes);
+        .nest("/{version}/api", api_routes);
 
     let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ async fn nested_multiple_routes() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-#[should_panic = "Invalid route \"/\": insertion failed due to conflict with previously registered route: /*__private__axum_nest_tail_param"]
+#[should_panic = "Invalid route \"/\": insertion failed due to conflict with previously registered route: /"]
 fn nested_service_at_root_with_other_routes() {
     let _: Router = Router::new()
         .nest_service("/", Router::new().route("/users", get(|| async {})))
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ async fn multiple_top_level_nests() {
 #[crate::test]
 #[should_panic(expected = "Invalid route: nested routes cannot contain wildcards (*)")]
 async fn nest_cannot_contain_wildcards() {
-    _ = Router::<()>::new().nest("/one/*rest", Router::new());
+    _ = Router::<()>::new().nest("/one/{*rest}", Router::new());
 }
 
 #[crate::test]
@@ -317,11 +317,11 @@ async fn outer_middleware_still_see_whole_url() {
 #[crate::test]
 async fn nest_at_capture() {
     let api_routes = Router::new().route(
-        "/:b",
+        "/{b}",
         get(|Path((a, b)): Path<(String, String)>| async move { format!("a={a} b={b}") }),
     );
 
-    let app = Router::new().nest("/:a", api_routes);
+    let app = Router::new().nest("/{a}", api_routes);
 
     let client = TestClient::new(app);
 
@@ -417,3 +417,19 @@ nested_route_test!(nest_9, nest = "/a", route = "/a/", expected = "/a/a/");
 nested_route_test!(nest_11, nest = "/a/", route = "/", expected = "/a/");
 nested_route_test!(nest_12, nest = "/a/", route = "/a", expected = "/a/a");
 nested_route_test!(nest_13, nest = "/a/", route = "/a/", expected = "/a/a/");
+
+#[crate::test]
+#[should_panic(
+    expected = "Path segments must not start with `:`. For capture groups, use `{capture}`. If you meant to literally match a segment starting with a colon, call `without_v07_checks` on the router."
+)]
+async fn colon_in_route() {
+    _ = Router::<()>::new().nest("/:foo", Router::new());
+}
+
+#[crate::test]
+#[should_panic(
+    expected = "Path segments must not start with `*`. For wildcard capture, use `{*wildcard}`. If you meant to literally match a segment starting with an asterisk, call `without_v07_checks` on the router."
+)]
+async fn asterisk_in_route() {
+    _ = Router::<()>::new().nest("/*foo", Router::new());
+}
diff --git a/examples/customize-path-rejection/src/main.rs b/examples/customize-path-rejection/src/main.rs
index 8df9057f06..e784a969b8 100644
--- a/examples/customize-path-rejection/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/customize-path-rejection/src/main.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ async fn main() {
         .init();
 
     // build our application with a route
-    let app = Router::new().route("/users/:user_id/teams/:team_id", get(handler));
+    let app = Router::new().route("/users/{user_id}/teams/{team_id}", get(handler));
 
     // run it
     let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:3000")
diff --git a/examples/dependency-injection/src/main.rs b/examples/dependency-injection/src/main.rs
index 0170966e91..7a4719e768 100644
--- a/examples/dependency-injection/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/dependency-injection/src/main.rs
@@ -52,14 +52,14 @@ async fn main() {
     // Using trait objects is recommended unless you really need generics.
 
     let using_dyn = Router::new()
-        .route("/users/:id", get(get_user_dyn))
+        .route("/users/{id}", get(get_user_dyn))
         .route("/users", post(create_user_dyn))
         .with_state(AppStateDyn {
             user_repo: Arc::new(user_repo.clone()),
         });
 
     let using_generic = Router::new()
-        .route("/users/:id", get(get_user_generic::<InMemoryUserRepo>))
+        .route("/users/{id}", get(get_user_generic::<InMemoryUserRepo>))
         .route("/users", post(create_user_generic::<InMemoryUserRepo>))
         .with_state(AppStateGeneric { user_repo });
 
diff --git a/examples/key-value-store/src/main.rs b/examples/key-value-store/src/main.rs
index 571dbaf0a6..c2b3f51cda 100644
--- a/examples/key-value-store/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/key-value-store/src/main.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ async fn main() {
     // Build our application by composing routes
     let app = Router::new()
         .route(
-            "/:key",
+            "/{key}",
             // Add compression to `kv_get`
             get(kv_get.layer(CompressionLayer::new()))
                 // But don't compress `kv_set`
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ fn admin_routes() -> Router<SharedState> {
 
     Router::new()
         .route("/keys", delete(delete_all_keys))
-        .route("/key/:key", delete(remove_key))
+        .route("/key/{key}", delete(remove_key))
         // Require bearer auth for all admin routes
         .layer(ValidateRequestHeaderLayer::bearer("secret-token"))
 }
diff --git a/examples/stream-to-file/src/main.rs b/examples/stream-to-file/src/main.rs
index 73cb63647f..7c44286d87 100644
--- a/examples/stream-to-file/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/stream-to-file/src/main.rs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ async fn main() {
 
     let app = Router::new()
         .route("/", get(show_form).post(accept_form))
-        .route("/file/:file_name", post(save_request_body));
+        .route("/file/{file_name}", post(save_request_body));
 
     let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:3000")
         .await
diff --git a/examples/templates/src/main.rs b/examples/templates/src/main.rs
index 6fdf48478b..872471c235 100644
--- a/examples/templates/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/templates/src/main.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ async fn main() {
         .init();
 
     // build our application with some routes
-    let app = Router::new().route("/greet/:name", get(greet));
+    let app = Router::new().route("/greet/{name}", get(greet));
 
     // run it
     let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:3000")
diff --git a/examples/todos/src/main.rs b/examples/todos/src/main.rs
index 273f30e920..6f115daf3c 100644
--- a/examples/todos/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/todos/src/main.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 //!
 //! - `GET /todos`: return a JSON list of Todos.
 //! - `POST /todos`: create a new Todo.
-//! - `PATCH /todos/:id`: update a specific Todo.
-//! - `DELETE /todos/:id`: delete a specific Todo.
+//! - `PATCH /todos/{id}`: update a specific Todo.
+//! - `DELETE /todos/{id}`: delete a specific Todo.
 //!
 //! Run with
 //!
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ async fn main() {
     // Compose the routes
     let app = Router::new()
         .route("/todos", get(todos_index).post(todos_create))
-        .route("/todos/:id", patch(todos_update).delete(todos_delete))
+        .route("/todos/{id}", patch(todos_update).delete(todos_delete))
         // Add middleware to all routes
         .layer(
             ServiceBuilder::new()
diff --git a/examples/versioning/src/main.rs b/examples/versioning/src/main.rs
index 58ea496d62..7b3ca5a581 100644
--- a/examples/versioning/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/versioning/src/main.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ async fn main() {
         .init();
 
     // build our application with some routes
-    let app = Router::new().route("/:version/foo", get(handler));
+    let app = Router::new().route("/{version}/foo", get(handler));
 
     // run it
     let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:3000")