diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 5be09d21..750e1c71 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ repos:
       - id: end-of-file-fixer
       - id: debug-statements
   - repo: https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff-pre-commit
-    rev: v0.15.1
+    rev: v0.15.5
     hooks:
       - id: ruff-check
         args: [ --fix, --show-fixes]
diff --git a/tests/codegen/handlers/test_sanitize_attributes_default_value.py b/tests/codegen/handlers/test_sanitize_attributes_default_value.py
index 934a5ddd..ece1d6c1 100644
--- a/tests/codegen/handlers/test_sanitize_attributes_default_value.py
+++ b/tests/codegen/handlers/test_sanitize_attributes_default_value.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def test_process_attribute(
 
         attr = AttrFactory.extension()
         self.processor.process_attribute(target, attr)
-        self.assertEqual("", attr.default)
+        self.assertIsNone(attr.default)
 
         attr = AttrFactory.extension(default="abc")
         self.processor.process_attribute(target, attr)
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def test_process_attribute(
             types=[AttrTypeFactory.native(DataType.BASE64_BINARY)]
         )
         self.processor.process_attribute(target, attr)
-        self.assertEqual("", attr.default)
+        self.assertIsNone(attr.default)
 
     def test_should_reset_required(self) -> None:
         attr = AttrFactory.create()
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/artists/metadata.py b/tests/fixtures/artists/metadata.py
index 954669c7..9a84f370 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/artists/metadata.py
+++ b/tests/fixtures/artists/metadata.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class Meta:
             "type": "Attribute",
         },
     )
-    value: str = field(default="")
+    value: str = field()
 
 
 @dataclass(kw_only=True)
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class Meta:
             "type": "Attribute",
         }
     )
-    value: str = field(default="")
+    value: str = field()
 
 
 @dataclass(kw_only=True)
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/dtd/models/complete_example.py b/tests/fixtures/dtd/models/complete_example.py
index 768d42d5..cb7265d3 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/dtd/models/complete_example.py
+++ b/tests/fixtures/dtd/models/complete_example.py
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@
 
 @dataclass(kw_only=True)
 class Body:
-    value: str = field(default="")
+    value: str = field()
 
 
 @dataclass(kw_only=True)
 class Origin:
-    value: str = field(default="")
+    value: str = field()
 
 
 class PostStatus(Enum):
@@ -21,17 +21,17 @@ class PostStatus(Enum):
 
 @dataclass(kw_only=True)
 class Source:
-    value: str = field(default="")
+    value: str = field()
 
 
 @dataclass(kw_only=True)
 class Tag:
-    value: str = field(default="")
+    value: str = field()
 
 
 @dataclass(kw_only=True)
 class Title:
-    value: str = field(default="")
+    value: str = field()
 
 
 @dataclass(kw_only=True)
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/primer/order.py b/tests/fixtures/primer/order.py
index a0f245ba..d1326795 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/primer/order.py
+++ b/tests/fixtures/primer/order.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class Comment:
     class Meta:
         name = "comment"
 
-    value: str = field(default="")
+    value: str = field()
 
 
 @dataclass(kw_only=True)
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/wrapper/models.py b/tests/fixtures/wrapper/models.py
index 6c67cd7b..2593cea6 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/wrapper/models.py
+++ b/tests/fixtures/wrapper/models.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class Meta:
         name = "charlie"
         namespace = "xsdata"
 
-    value: str = field(default="")
+    value: str = field()
     lang: None | object = field(
         default=None,
         metadata={
diff --git a/tests/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/test_primitive.py b/tests/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/test_primitive.py
index dd44a7aa..f3e39551 100644
--- a/tests/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/test_primitive.py
+++ b/tests/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/test_primitive.py
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
-from unittest import TestCase, mock
+from unittest import TestCase
 
 from tests.fixtures.artists import Artist
 from xsdata.exceptions import XmlContextError
 from xsdata.formats.dataclass.models.elements import XmlType
 from xsdata.formats.dataclass.parsers.config import ParserConfig
 from xsdata.formats.dataclass.parsers.nodes import PrimitiveNode
-from xsdata.formats.dataclass.parsers.utils import ParserUtils
 from xsdata.utils.testing import XmlMetaFactory, XmlVarFactory
 
 
@@ -15,9 +14,7 @@ def setUp(self) -> None:
         self.meta = XmlMetaFactory.create(clazz=Artist)
         self.config = ParserConfig()
 
-    @mock.patch.object(ParserUtils, "parse_var")
-    def test_bind(self, mock_parse_var) -> None:
-        mock_parse_var.return_value = 13
+    def test_bind(self) -> None:
         var = XmlVarFactory.create(
             xml_type=XmlType.TEXT, name="foo", types=(int,), format="Nope"
         )
@@ -28,10 +25,6 @@ def test_bind(self, mock_parse_var) -> None:
         self.assertTrue(node.bind("foo", "13", "Impossible", objects))
         self.assertEqual(("foo", 13), objects[-1])
 
-        mock_parse_var.assert_called_once_with(
-            meta=self.meta, var=var, config=self.config, value="13", ns_map=ns_map
-        )
-
     def test_bind_nillable_content(self) -> None:
         var = XmlVarFactory.create(
             xml_type=XmlType.TEXT, name="foo", types=(str,), nillable=False
@@ -53,6 +46,7 @@ def test_bind_nillable_bytes_content(self) -> None:
             name="foo",
             types=(bytes,),
             nillable=False,
+            format="base64",
         )
         ns_map = {"foo": "bar"}
         node = PrimitiveNode(self.meta, var, ns_map, self.config)
diff --git a/tests/formats/dataclass/parsers/test_dict.py b/tests/formats/dataclass/parsers/test_dict.py
index 0aa2d043..c11f45c2 100644
--- a/tests/formats/dataclass/parsers/test_dict.py
+++ b/tests/formats/dataclass/parsers/test_dict.py
@@ -134,6 +134,10 @@ def test_decode_wrapper(self) -> None:
         )
         self.assertEqual(expected, actual)
 
+    def test_bind_dataclass_missing_text_field(self) -> None:
+        result = self.decoder.decode({"lang": "en"}, Charlie)
+        self.assertEqual(Charlie(value="", lang="en"), result)
+
     def test_verify_type(self) -> None:
         invalid_cases = [
             (
diff --git a/tests/formats/dataclass/parsers/test_utils.py b/tests/formats/dataclass/parsers/test_utils.py
index ad563854..94e8511d 100644
--- a/tests/formats/dataclass/parsers/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/formats/dataclass/parsers/test_utils.py
@@ -120,6 +120,19 @@ def test_validate_fixed_value(self) -> None:
         var = XmlVarFactory.create("fixed", default=lambda: ProcessType.LAX)
         ParserUtils.validate_fixed_value(meta, var, "lax")
 
+    def test_parse_text_var(self) -> None:
+        meta = XmlMetaFactory.create(clazz=TypeA, qname="foo")
+        config = ParserConfig()
+
+        var = XmlVarFactory.create("text", types=(str,))
+        self.assertEqual(
+            "hello", ParserUtils.parse_text_var(meta, var, config, "hello")
+        )
+        self.assertEqual("", ParserUtils.parse_text_var(meta, var, config, None))
+
+        var = XmlVarFactory.create("text", types=(bytes,), format="base64")
+        self.assertEqual(b"", ParserUtils.parse_text_var(meta, var, config, None))
+
     def test_parse_var_with_error(self) -> None:
         meta = XmlMetaFactory.create(clazz=TypeA, qname="foo")
         var = XmlVarFactory.create("fixed", default="a")
diff --git a/xsdata/codegen/handlers/sanitize_attributes_default_value.py b/xsdata/codegen/handlers/sanitize_attributes_default_value.py
index fdbf1958..ec279511 100644
--- a/xsdata/codegen/handlers/sanitize_attributes_default_value.py
+++ b/xsdata/codegen/handlers/sanitize_attributes_default_value.py
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ def process_attribute(self, target: Class, attr: Attr) -> None:
             - Reset min_occurs
             - Reset default value
             - Validate default value against types
-            - Set empty string as default value for string text nodes.
 
         Args:
             target: The target class instance
@@ -54,12 +53,6 @@ def process_attribute(self, target: Class, attr: Attr) -> None:
 
         if attr.default is not None:
             self.process_types(target, attr)
-        elif attr.xml_type is None:
-            # Text nodes get an empty default value
-            if str in attr.native_types:
-                attr.default = ""
-            elif bytes in attr.native_types:
-                attr.default = ""  # Will be converted to b"" during codegen
 
     def process_types(self, target: Class, attr: Attr) -> None:
         """Reset attr types if default value doesn't pass validation.
diff --git a/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/dict.py b/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/dict.py
index 0ae7ce67..ed008cfe 100644
--- a/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/dict.py
+++ b/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/dict.py
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ def bind_dataclass(self, data: dict, clazz: type[T]) -> T:
         meta = self.context.build(clazz)
         xml_vars = meta.get_all_vars()
 
+        if meta.text and meta.text.local_name not in data:
+            data[meta.text.local_name] = ""
+
         params = {}
         for key, value in data.items():
             var = self.find_var(xml_vars, key, value)
@@ -296,6 +299,9 @@ def bind_text(self, meta: XmlMeta, var: XmlVar, value: Any) -> Any:
             # field can support any object return the value as it is
             return value
 
+        if value is None:
+            return None
+
         value = converter.serialize(value)
 
         # Convert value according to the field types
diff --git a/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/element.py b/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/element.py
index 01de1383..e5b3666d 100644
--- a/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/element.py
+++ b/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/element.py
@@ -365,17 +365,17 @@ def bind_text(self, params: dict, text: str | None) -> bool:
         """
         var = self.meta.text
 
-        if not var or (text is None and not self.xsi_nil):
+        if not var:
             return False
 
-        if self.xsi_nil and not text:
+        if self.xsi_nil and text is None:
             value = None
         else:
-            value = ParserUtils.parse_var(
+            value = ParserUtils.parse_text_var(
                 meta=self.meta,
                 var=var,
                 config=self.config,
-                value=text,
+                text=text,
                 ns_map=self.ns_map,
             )
 
diff --git a/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/primitive.py b/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/primitive.py
index 1c4f5a18..44ddd3ff 100644
--- a/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/primitive.py
+++ b/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/primitive.py
@@ -46,16 +46,16 @@ def bind(
         Returns:
             Whether the binding process was successful or not.
         """
-        obj = ParserUtils.parse_var(
-            meta=self.meta,
-            var=self.var,
-            config=self.config,
-            value=text,
-            ns_map=self.ns_map,
-        )
-
-        if obj is None and not self.var.nillable:
-            obj = b"" if bytes in self.var.types else ""
+        if text is None and self.var.nillable:
+            obj = None
+        else:
+            obj = ParserUtils.parse_text_var(
+                meta=self.meta,
+                var=self.var,
+                config=self.config,
+                text=text,
+                ns_map=self.ns_map,
+            )
 
         objects.append((qname, obj))
 
diff --git a/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/standard.py b/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/standard.py
index 630d7595..01354739 100644
--- a/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/standard.py
+++ b/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/nodes/standard.py
@@ -70,18 +70,19 @@ def bind(
             Always true, it's not possible to fail during parsing
             for this node.
         """
-        obj = ParserUtils.parse_var(
-            meta=self.meta,
-            var=self.var,
-            config=self.config,
-            value=text,
-            types=[self.datatype.type],
-            ns_map=self.ns_map,
-            format=self.datatype.format,
-        )
 
-        if obj is None and not self.nillable:
-            obj = ""
+        if text is None and self.nillable:
+            obj = None
+        else:
+            obj = ParserUtils.parse_text_var(
+                meta=self.meta,
+                var=self.var,
+                config=self.config,
+                text=text,
+                types=[self.datatype.type],
+                ns_map=self.ns_map,
+                format=self.datatype.format,
+            )
 
         if self.datatype.wrapper:
             obj = self.datatype.wrapper(obj)
diff --git a/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/utils.py b/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/utils.py
index 366054bd..67b7c279 100644
--- a/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/utils.py
+++ b/xsdata/formats/dataclass/parsers/utils.py
@@ -89,9 +89,7 @@ def parse_var(
         config: ParserConfig,
         value: Any,
         ns_map: dict | None = None,
-        default: Any = None,
         types: Sequence[type] | None = None,
-        tokens_factory: Callable | None = None,
         format: str | None = None,
     ) -> Any:
         """Convert a value to a python primitive type.
@@ -102,9 +100,7 @@ def parse_var(
             config: The parser config instance
             value: A primitive value or a list of primitive values
             ns_map: The element namespace prefix-URI map
-            default: Override the var default value
             types: Override the var types
-            tokens_factory: Override the var tokens factory
             format: Override the var format
 
         Returns:
@@ -114,9 +110,9 @@ def parse_var(
             value = cls.parse_value(
                 value=value,
                 types=types or var.types,
-                default=default or var.default,
+                default=var.default,
                 ns_map=ns_map,
-                tokens_factory=tokens_factory or var.tokens_factory,
+                tokens_factory=var.tokens_factory,
                 format=format or var.format,
             )
         except ConverterError as ex:
@@ -131,6 +127,41 @@ def parse_var(
 
         return value
 
+    @classmethod
+    def parse_text_var(
+        cls,
+        meta: XmlMeta,
+        var: XmlVar,
+        config: ParserConfig,
+        text: str | None,
+        ns_map: dict | None = None,
+        types: Sequence[type] | None = None,
+        format: str | None = None,
+    ) -> Any:
+        """Parse a text node value with empty-string fallback.
+
+        Args:
+            meta: The xml meta instance
+            var: The xml var instance
+            config: The parser config instance
+            text: The element text content
+            ns_map: The element namespace prefix-URI map
+            types: Override the var types
+            format: Override the var format
+
+        Returns:
+            The converted value or values.
+        """
+        value = cls.parse_var(
+            meta, var, config, text, ns_map=ns_map, types=types, format=format
+        )
+        if value is None:
+            value = cls.parse_var(
+                meta, var, config, "", ns_map=ns_map, types=types, format=format
+            )
+
+        return value
+
     @classmethod
     def parse_value(
         cls,