diff --git a/codec/encode.go b/codec/encode.go
index a18febd..bbfbd6b 100644
--- a/codec/encode.go
+++ b/codec/encode.go
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ type Encoder struct {
 	io.Writer
 }
 
+// WriteByte encodes a single byte to the output writer.
+func (this *Encoder) WriteByte(value byte) (n int, err error) {
+	return this.WriteByte(uint8(value))
+}
+
 // WriteInt8 encodes an 8-bit signed integer to the output writer.
 func (this *Encoder) WriteInt8(value int8) (n int, err error) {
 	return this.WriteUint8(uint8(value))