diff --git a/pw_assert/BUILD.bazel b/pw_assert/BUILD.bazel
index a2a38cd..27ddadb 100644
--- a/pw_assert/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/pw_assert/BUILD.bazel
@@ -26,14 +26,14 @@
 pw_cc_facade(
     name = "facade",
     hdrs = [
-        "assert_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h",
+        "assert_compatibility_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h",
         "public/pw_assert/assert.h",
         "public/pw_assert/check.h",
         "public/pw_assert/internal/check_impl.h",
         "public/pw_assert/short.h",
     ],
     includes = [
-        "assert_lite_public_overrides",
+        "assert_compatibility_public_overrides",
         "public",
     ],
     deps = [
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@
 )
 
 pw_cc_library(
-    name = "print_and_abort_lite_backend",
-    hdrs = ["print_and_abort_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h"],
-    includes = ["print_and_abort_lite_public_overrides"],
+    name = "print_and_abort_assert_backend",
+    hdrs = ["print_and_abort_assert_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h"],
+    includes = ["print_and_abort_assert_public_overrides"],
     deps = [
         ":config",
         ":print_and_abort",
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@
 )
 
 pw_cc_library(
-    name = "print_and_abort_backend",
+    name = "print_and_abort_check_backend",
     hdrs =
-        ["print_and_abort_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h"],
+        ["print_and_abort_check_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h"],
     includes = ["print_and_abort_public_overrides"],
     deps = [":print_and_abort"],
 )
@@ -84,7 +84,9 @@
 pw_cc_library(
     name = "backend_multiplexer",
     visibility = ["@pigweed_config//:__pkg__"],
-    deps = ["@pigweed//pw_assert_basic"],
+    deps = [
+        "@pigweed//pw_assert_basic",
+    ],
 )
 
 pw_cc_test(
diff --git a/pw_assert/BUILD.gn b/pw_assert/BUILD.gn
index e0c88e3..5bd10fc 100644
--- a/pw_assert/BUILD.gn
+++ b/pw_assert/BUILD.gn
@@ -32,18 +32,18 @@
   visibility = [ ":*" ]
 }
 
-config("lite_backend_overrides") {
-  include_dirs = [ "assert_lite_public_overrides" ]
+config("assert_backend_overrides") {
+  include_dirs = [ "assert_compatibility_public_overrides" ]
   visibility = [ ":*" ]
 }
 
-config("print_and_abort_backend_overrides") {
-  include_dirs = [ "print_and_abort_public_overrides" ]
+config("print_and_abort_check_backend_overrides") {
+  include_dirs = [ "print_and_abort_check_public_overrides" ]
   visibility = [ ":*" ]
 }
 
-config("print_and_abort_lite_backend_overrides") {
-  include_dirs = [ "print_and_abort_lite_public_overrides" ]
+config("print_and_abort_assert_backend_overrides") {
+  include_dirs = [ "print_and_abort_assert_public_overrides" ]
   visibility = [ ":*" ]
 }
 
@@ -104,16 +104,17 @@
 # This backend to pw_assert's PW_ASSERT()/PW_DASSERT() macros provides backwards
 # compatibility with pw_assert's previous C-symbol based API.
 #
-# Warning: The "lite" naming is transitional. assert_lite_backend.h headers
-# will be renamed as the pw_assert API is reassessed. (pwbug/246)
-pw_source_set("lite_compatibility_backend") {
-  public_configs = [ ":lite_backend_overrides" ]
+# Warning: The assert facade is in a transitional state, and this target is
+# likely to be removed as the pw_assert API is reassessed. (pwbug/246)
+pw_source_set("assert_compatibility_backend") {
+  public_configs = [ ":assert_backend_overrides" ]
   public_deps = [ dir_pw_preprocessor ]
-  public =
-      [ "assert_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h" ]
+  public = [
+    "assert_compatibility_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h",
+  ]
 }
 
-group("lite_compatibility_backend.impl") {
+group("assert_compatibility_backend.impl") {
 }
 
 pw_source_set("print_and_abort") {
@@ -126,32 +127,30 @@
 # This backend to pw_assert's PW_CHECK()/PW_DCHECK() macros prints the assert
 # expression, evaluated expression, file/line number, function, and user message
 # with printf, then aborts. It is intended for use with host builds.
-pw_source_set("print_and_abort_backend") {
-  public_configs = [ ":print_and_abort_backend_overrides" ]
+pw_source_set("print_and_abort_check_backend") {
+  public_configs = [ ":print_and_abort_check_backend_overrides" ]
   public_deps = [ ":print_and_abort" ]
-  public =
-      [ "print_and_abort_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h" ]
+  public = [
+    "print_and_abort_check_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h",
+  ]
 }
 
-group("print_and_abort_backend.impl") {
+group("print_and_abort_check_backend.impl") {
 }
 
 # This backend to pw_assert's PW_ASSERT()/PW_DASSERT() macros prints the assert
 # expression, file/line number, and function with printf, then aborts. It is
 # intended for use with host builds.
-#
-# Warning: The "lite" naming is transitional. assert_lite_backend.h headers
-# will be renamed as the pw_assert API is reassessed. (pwbug/246)
-pw_source_set("print_and_abort_lite_backend") {
-  public_configs = [ ":print_and_abort_lite_backend_overrides" ]
+pw_source_set("print_and_abort_assert_backend") {
+  public_configs = [ ":print_and_abort_assert_backend_overrides" ]
   public_deps = [
     ":config",
     ":print_and_abort",
   ]
-  public = [ "print_and_abort_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h" ]
+  public = [ "print_and_abort_assert_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h" ]
 }
 
-group("print_and_abort_lite_backend.impl") {
+group("print_and_abort_assert_backend.impl") {
 }
 
 # pw_assert is low-level and ubiquitous. Because of this, it can often cause
diff --git a/pw_assert/CMakeLists.txt b/pw_assert/CMakeLists.txt
index b58bb27..5c327ce 100644
--- a/pw_assert/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/pw_assert/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -21,4 +21,7 @@
     pw_preprocessor
     ${pw_assert_CONFIG}
 )
-target_include_directories(pw_assert INTERFACE assert_lite_public_overrides)
+target_include_directories(pw_assert
+  INTERFACE
+    assert_compatibility_public_overrides
+)
diff --git a/pw_assert/assert_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h b/pw_assert/assert_compatibility_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h
similarity index 100%
rename from pw_assert/assert_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h
rename to pw_assert/assert_compatibility_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h
diff --git a/pw_assert/backend.gni b/pw_assert/backend.gni
index c4876cf..01a4690 100644
--- a/pw_assert/backend.gni
+++ b/pw_assert/backend.gni
@@ -22,5 +22,5 @@
   #
   # Warning: This naming is transitional. Modifying this build argument WILL
   #     result in future breakages. (pwbug/246)
-  pw_assert_LITE_BACKEND = "${dir_pw_assert}:lite_compatibility_backend"
+  pw_assert_LITE_BACKEND = "${dir_pw_assert}:assert_compatibility_backend"
 }
diff --git a/pw_assert/docs.rst b/pw_assert/docs.rst
index 8294f09..1e9b645 100644
--- a/pw_assert/docs.rst
+++ b/pw_assert/docs.rst
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@
   are extremely confusingly similar and are NOT interchangeable.
 
 A macro-based backend for the ``PW_ASSERT()`` macros must provide the following
-macro in a header at ``pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h``.
+macro in a header at ``pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h``.
 
 .. cpp:function:: PW_ASSERT_HANDLE_FAILURE(expression)
 
diff --git a/pw_assert/print_and_abort_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h b/pw_assert/print_and_abort_assert_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h
similarity index 100%
rename from pw_assert/print_and_abort_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h
rename to pw_assert/print_and_abort_assert_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h
diff --git a/pw_assert/print_and_abort_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h b/pw_assert/print_and_abort_check_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h
similarity index 100%
rename from pw_assert/print_and_abort_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h
rename to pw_assert/print_and_abort_check_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h
diff --git a/pw_assert/public/pw_assert/assert.h b/pw_assert/public/pw_assert/assert.h
index ec4995f..a3ad186 100644
--- a/pw_assert/public/pw_assert/assert.h
+++ b/pw_assert/public/pw_assert/assert.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "pw_assert/config.h"  // For PW_ASSERT_ENABLE_DEBUG
-#include "pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h"
+#include "pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h"
 
 // A header- and constexpr-safe version of PW_CHECK().
 //
diff --git a/pw_assert_basic/BUILD.gn b/pw_assert_basic/BUILD.gn
index 79e0181..09c190f 100644
--- a/pw_assert_basic/BUILD.gn
+++ b/pw_assert_basic/BUILD.gn
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@
   public = [ "public/pw_assert_basic/handler.h" ]
 }
 
+# TODO(pwbug/246): This backend implements pw_assert's check backend and the
+# temporary compatibility C ABI (pw_assert_HandleFailure()).
+#
 # pw_assert_basic only provides the backend's interface. The implementation is
 # pulled in through pw_build_LINK_DEPS.
 pw_source_set("pw_assert_basic") {
diff --git a/pw_assert_log/BUILD.bazel b/pw_assert_log/BUILD.bazel
index bf7dbc9..6e49fa4 100644
--- a/pw_assert_log/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/pw_assert_log/BUILD.bazel
@@ -22,17 +22,17 @@
 licenses(["notice"])
 
 pw_cc_library(
-    name = "pw_assert_log",
+    name = "check_backend",
     srcs = [
         "assert_log.cc",
     ],
     hdrs = [
+        "check_backend_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h",
         "public/pw_assert_log/assert_log.h",
-        "public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h",
     ],
     includes = [
+        "check_backend_public_overrides",
         "public",
-        "public_overrides",
     ],
     deps = [
         "//pw_assert:facade",
@@ -42,13 +42,12 @@
 )
 
 pw_cc_library(
-    name = "lite_backend",
+    name = "assert_backend",
     hdrs = [
-        "assert_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h",
-        "public/pw_assert_log/assert_lite_log.h",
+        "assert_backend_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h",
     ],
     includes = [
-        "assert_lite_public_overrides",
+        "assert_backend_public_overrides",
         "public",
     ],
     deps = [
diff --git a/pw_assert_log/BUILD.gn b/pw_assert_log/BUILD.gn
index b45d8c6..539cc5a 100644
--- a/pw_assert_log/BUILD.gn
+++ b/pw_assert_log/BUILD.gn
@@ -17,58 +17,64 @@
 import("$dir_pw_build/target_types.gni")
 import("$dir_pw_docgen/docs.gni")
 
-config("default_config") {
+config("public_include_path") {
   include_dirs = [ "public" ]
 }
 
-config("backend_config") {
-  include_dirs = [ "public_overrides" ]
+config("check_backend_overrides") {
+  include_dirs = [ "check_backend_public_overrides" ]
 }
 
-config("lite_backend_overrides") {
-  include_dirs = [ "assert_lite_public_overrides" ]
+config("assert_backend_overrides") {
+  include_dirs = [ "assert_backend_public_overrides" ]
 }
 
-# This backend to pw_assert's PW_CHECK()/PW_CRASH() macros via PW_LOG.
-pw_source_set("pw_assert_log") {
+# This target provides a backend to pw_assert's check facade
+# (PW_CHECK()/PW_CRASH() macros) and assert compatibility C ABI
+# (the pw_assert_HandleFailure() function) via PW_LOG.
+pw_source_set("check_backend") {
   public_configs = [
-    ":backend_config",
-    ":default_config",
+    ":check_backend_overrides",
+    ":public_include_path",
   ]
   public_deps = [ "$dir_pw_log" ]
-  public = [ "public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h" ]
+  public =
+      [ "check_backend_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h" ]
   deps = [
     "$dir_pw_assert:config",
     "$dir_pw_assert:facade",
     "$dir_pw_preprocessor",
   ]
   sources = [
+    # TODO(pwbug/246): assert_log.cc implements the assert compatibility
+    #     backend, but nothing for check_backend.
     "assert_log.cc",
     "public/pw_assert_log/assert_log.h",
   ]
 }
 
+# TODO(pwbug/246): Remove this deprecated alias.
+group("pw_assert_log") {
+  public_deps = [ ":check_backend" ]
+}
+
 # This backend to pw_assert's PW_ASSERT() macros via PW_LOG. It is intended only
 # for use with PW_LOG backends which are constexpr compatible such as
 # pw_log_android.
-#
-# Warning: The "lite" naming is transitional. assert_lite_backend.h headers
-# will be renamed as the pw_assert API is reassessed. (pwbug/246)
-pw_source_set("lite_backend") {
+pw_source_set("assert_backend") {
   public_configs = [
-    ":lite_backend_overrides",
-    ":default_config",
+    ":assert_backend_overrides",
+    ":public_include_path",
   ]
   public_deps = [
     "$dir_pw_log",
     "$dir_pw_preprocessor",
   ]
   public =
-      [ "assert_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h" ]
-  sources = [ "public/pw_assert_log/assert_lite_log.h" ]
+      [ "assert_backend_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h" ]
 }
 
-group("lite_backend.impl") {
+group("assert_backend.impl") {
 }
 
 # pw_assert_log doesn't have deps with potential circular dependencies, so this
diff --git a/pw_assert_log/assert_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h b/pw_assert_log/assert_backend_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h
similarity index 60%
rename from pw_assert_log/assert_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h
rename to pw_assert_log/assert_backend_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h
index 91a6ff6..264ca9f 100644
--- a/pw_assert_log/assert_lite_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h
+++ b/pw_assert_log/assert_backend_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h
@@ -17,4 +17,14 @@
 // (though only pw_assert/check.h can only point to 1 backend).
 #pragma once
 
-#include "pw_assert_log/assert_lite_log.h"
+#include "pw_log/levels.h"
+#include "pw_log/log.h"
+#include "pw_log/options.h"
+#include "pw_preprocessor/compiler.h"
+
+#define PW_ASSERT_HANDLE_FAILURE(condition_string)                             \
+  do {                                                                         \
+    PW_LOG(                                                                    \
+        PW_LOG_LEVEL_FATAL, PW_LOG_FLAGS, "Assert failed: " condition_string); \
+    PW_UNREACHABLE;                                                            \
+  } while (0)
diff --git a/pw_assert_log/public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h b/pw_assert_log/check_backend_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h
similarity index 100%
rename from pw_assert_log/public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h
rename to pw_assert_log/check_backend_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h
diff --git a/pw_assert_tokenized/BUILD.bazel b/pw_assert_tokenized/BUILD.bazel
index fd29970..1046831 100644
--- a/pw_assert_tokenized/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/pw_assert_tokenized/BUILD.bazel
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
         "log_handler.cc",
     ],
     hdrs = [
-        "assert_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h",
+        "assert_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h",
         "check_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/check_backend.h",
         "public/pw_assert_tokenized/assert_tokenized.h",
         "public/pw_assert_tokenized/check_tokenized.h",
diff --git a/pw_assert_tokenized/BUILD.gn b/pw_assert_tokenized/BUILD.gn
index 9670b5a..771d890 100644
--- a/pw_assert_tokenized/BUILD.gn
+++ b/pw_assert_tokenized/BUILD.gn
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
     "$dir_pw_tokenizer",
   ]
   public = [
-    "assert_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h",
+    "assert_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h",
     "public/pw_assert_tokenized/assert_tokenized.h",
   ]
 }
diff --git a/pw_assert_tokenized/assert_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h b/pw_assert_tokenized/assert_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h
similarity index 100%
rename from pw_assert_tokenized/assert_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_lite_backend.h
rename to pw_assert_tokenized/assert_public_overrides/pw_assert_backend/assert_backend.h
diff --git a/pw_assert_zephyr/CMakeLists.txt b/pw_assert_zephyr/CMakeLists.txt
index 1d55f65..ef635d8 100644
--- a/pw_assert_zephyr/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/pw_assert_zephyr/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
   return()
 endif()
 
+# TODO(pwbug/246): This backend implements pw_assert's check backend and the
+# temporary compatibility C ABI (pw_assert_HandleFailure()).
 pw_auto_add_simple_module(pw_assert_zephyr
   IMPLEMENTS_FACADE
     pw_assert
diff --git a/targets/host/target_toolchains.gni b/targets/host/target_toolchains.gni
index 4a4dd6b..43cd552 100644
--- a/targets/host/target_toolchains.gni
+++ b/targets/host/target_toolchains.gni
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 
   # Configure backend for assert facade.
   pw_assert_BACKEND = "$dir_pw_assert_basic"
-  pw_assert_LITE_BACKEND = "$dir_pw_assert:print_and_abort_lite_backend"
+  pw_assert_LITE_BACKEND = "$dir_pw_assert:print_and_abort_assert_backend"
 
   # Configure backend for logging facade.
   pw_log_BACKEND = "$dir_pw_log_basic"
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@
       default_configs += _clang_default_configs
       default_configs += [ "$dir_pw_build:cpp14" ]
 
-      pw_assert_BACKEND = "$dir_pw_assert:print_and_abort_backend"
+      pw_assert_BACKEND = "$dir_pw_assert:print_and_abort_check_backend"
       pw_log_BACKEND = "$dir_pw_log_null"
       pw_unit_test_MAIN = "$dir_pw_unit_test:printf_main"
     }