diff --git a/cpp/include/cudf/detail/null_mask.cuh b/cpp/include/cudf/detail/null_mask.cuh
index 02c93e7e31e..753525128bb 100644
--- a/cpp/include/cudf/detail/null_mask.cuh
+++ b/cpp/include/cudf/detail/null_mask.cuh
@@ -98,16 +98,17 @@ __global__ void offset_bitmask_binop(Binop op,
  * @param stream CUDA stream used for device memory operations and kernel launches
  */
 template <typename Binop>
-bitmask bitmask_binop(Binop op,
-                      host_span<bitmask_type const*> masks,
-                      host_span<size_type const> masks_begin_bits,
-                      size_type mask_size_bits,
-                      rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
-                      rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource())
+std::pair<rmm::device_buffer, size_type> bitmask_binop(
+  Binop op,
+  host_span<bitmask_type const*> masks,
+  host_span<size_type const> masks_begin_bits,
+  size_type mask_size_bits,
+  rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
+  rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource())
 {
   auto dest_mask = rmm::device_buffer{bitmask_allocation_size_bytes(mask_size_bits), stream, mr};
-
-  auto valid_count =
+  auto null_count =
+    mask_size_bits -
     inplace_bitmask_binop(op,
                           device_span<bitmask_type>(static_cast<bitmask_type*>(dest_mask.data()),
                                                     num_bitmask_words(mask_size_bits)),
@@ -116,9 +117,8 @@ bitmask bitmask_binop(Binop op,
                           mask_size_bits,
                           stream,
                           mr);
-  auto null_count = mask_size_bits - valid_count;
 
-  return bitmask{std::move(dest_mask), valid_count, null_count};
+  return std::make_pair(std::move(dest_mask), null_count);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/cpp/include/cudf/detail/null_mask.hpp b/cpp/include/cudf/detail/null_mask.hpp
index 334d0339ca2..d2819e665df 100644
--- a/cpp/include/cudf/detail/null_mask.hpp
+++ b/cpp/include/cudf/detail/null_mask.hpp
@@ -23,9 +23,6 @@
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace cudf {
-
-struct bitmask;
-
 namespace detail {
 
 /**
@@ -117,29 +114,32 @@ rmm::device_buffer copy_bitmask(
  *
  * @param stream CUDA stream used for device memory operations and kernel launches
  */
-bitmask bitmask_and(host_span<bitmask_type const*> masks,
-                    host_span<size_type const> masks_begin_bits,
-                    size_type mask_size_bits,
-                    rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
-                    rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource());
+std::pair<rmm::device_buffer, size_type> bitmask_and(
+  host_span<bitmask_type const*> masks,
+  host_span<size_type const> masks_begin_bits,
+  size_type mask_size_bits,
+  rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
+  rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource());
 
 /**
  * @copydoc cudf::bitmask_and
  *
  * @param[in] stream CUDA stream used for device memory operations and kernel launches.
  */
-bitmask bitmask_and(table_view const& view,
-                    rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
-                    rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource());
+std::pair<rmm::device_buffer, size_type> bitmask_and(
+  table_view const& view,
+  rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
+  rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource());
 
 /**
  * @copydoc cudf::bitmask_or
  *
  * @param[in] stream CUDA stream used for device memory operations and kernel launches.
  */
-bitmask bitmask_or(table_view const& view,
-                   rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
-                   rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource());
+std::pair<rmm::device_buffer, size_type> bitmask_or(
+  table_view const& view,
+  rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
+  rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource());
 
 /**
  * @brief Performs a bitwise AND of the specified bitmasks,
diff --git a/cpp/include/cudf/null_mask.hpp b/cpp/include/cudf/null_mask.hpp
index 1ea3160161a..4b887b20049 100644
--- a/cpp/include/cudf/null_mask.hpp
+++ b/cpp/include/cudf/null_mask.hpp
@@ -24,15 +24,6 @@
 
 namespace cudf {
 
-/**
- * @brief Bitmask output type.
- */
-struct bitmask {
-  rmm::device_buffer mask;   ///< Resulting bitmask
-  size_type num_set_bits;    ///< Number of set bits
-  size_type num_unset_bits;  ///< Number of unset bits
-};
-
 /**
  * @addtogroup column_nullmask
  * @{
@@ -211,32 +202,32 @@ rmm::device_buffer copy_bitmask(
   rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource());
 
 /**
- * @brief Returns a struct of bitwise AND of the bitmasks of columns of a table,
- * count of valid bits and count of null bits
+ * @brief Returns a pair of bitwise AND of the bitmasks of columns of a table and count of null bits
  *
  * If any of the columns isn't nullable, it is considered all valid.
  * If no column in the table is nullable, an empty bitmask is returned.
  *
  * @param view The table of columns
  * @param mr Device memory resource used to allocate the returned device_buffer
- * @return A struct of resulting bitmask, count of valid bits and count of null bits
+ * @return A pair of resulting bitmask and count of null bits
  */
-bitmask bitmask_and(table_view const& view,
-                    rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource());
+std::pair<rmm::device_buffer, size_type> bitmask_and(
+  table_view const& view,
+  rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource());
 
 /**
- * @brief Returns a struct of bitwise OR of the bitmasks of columns of a table,
- * count of valid bits and count of null bits
+ * @brief Returns a pair of bitwise OR of the bitmasks of columns of a table and count of null bits
  *
  * If any of the columns isn't nullable, it is considered all valid.
  * If no column in the table is nullable, an empty bitmask is returned.
  *
  * @param view The table of columns
  * @param mr Device memory resource used to allocate the returned device_buffer
- * @return rmm::device_buffer Output bitmask
+ * @return A pair of resulting bitmask and count of null bits
  */
-bitmask bitmask_or(table_view const& view,
-                   rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource());
+std::pair<rmm::device_buffer, size_type> bitmask_or(
+  table_view const& view,
+  rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr = rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource());
 
 /** @} */  // end of group
 }  // namespace cudf
diff --git a/cpp/src/binaryop/binaryop.cpp b/cpp/src/binaryop/binaryop.cpp
index 794d0676f8a..b9ed95daf1b 100644
--- a/cpp/src/binaryop/binaryop.cpp
+++ b/cpp/src/binaryop/binaryop.cpp
@@ -392,13 +392,9 @@ std::unique_ptr<column> make_fixed_width_column_for_output(column_view const& lh
   if (binops::is_null_dependent(op)) {
     return make_fixed_width_column(output_type, rhs.size(), mask_state::ALL_VALID, stream, mr);
   } else {
-    auto bitmask_output = cudf::detail::bitmask_and(table_view({lhs, rhs}), stream, mr);
-    return make_fixed_width_column(output_type,
-                                   lhs.size(),
-                                   std::move(bitmask_output.mask),
-                                   bitmask_output.num_unset_bits,
-                                   stream,
-                                   mr);
+    auto [new_mask, null_count] = cudf::detail::bitmask_and(table_view({lhs, rhs}), stream, mr);
+    return make_fixed_width_column(
+      output_type, lhs.size(), std::move(new_mask), null_count, stream, mr);
   }
 };
 
@@ -803,13 +799,9 @@ std::unique_ptr<column> binary_operation(column_view const& lhs,
 
   CUDF_EXPECTS((lhs.size() == rhs.size()), "Column sizes don't match");
 
-  auto bitmask_output = bitmask_and(table_view({lhs, rhs}), stream, mr);
-  auto out            = make_fixed_width_column(output_type,
-                                     lhs.size(),
-                                     std::move(bitmask_output.mask),
-                                     bitmask_output.num_unset_bits,
-                                     stream,
-                                     mr);
+  auto [new_mask, null_count] = bitmask_and(table_view({lhs, rhs}), stream, mr);
+  auto out =
+    make_fixed_width_column(output_type, lhs.size(), std::move(new_mask), null_count, stream, mr);
 
   // Check for 0 sized data
   if (lhs.is_empty() or rhs.is_empty()) return out;
diff --git a/cpp/src/bitmask/null_mask.cu b/cpp/src/bitmask/null_mask.cu
index 09560396c21..1cd3def61ac 100644
--- a/cpp/src/bitmask/null_mask.cu
+++ b/cpp/src/bitmask/null_mask.cu
@@ -356,11 +356,11 @@ void inplace_bitmask_and(device_span<bitmask_type> dest_mask,
 }
 
 // Bitwise AND of the masks
-bitmask bitmask_and(host_span<bitmask_type const*> masks,
-                    host_span<size_type const> begin_bits,
-                    size_type mask_size,
-                    rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
-                    rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr)
+std::pair<rmm::device_buffer, size_type> bitmask_and(host_span<bitmask_type const*> masks,
+                                                     host_span<size_type const> begin_bits,
+                                                     size_type mask_size,
+                                                     rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
+                                                     rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr)
 {
   return bitmask_binop(
     [] __device__(bitmask_type left, bitmask_type right) { return left & right; },
@@ -372,14 +372,14 @@ bitmask bitmask_and(host_span<bitmask_type const*> masks,
 }
 
 // Returns the bitwise AND of the null masks of all columns in the table view
-bitmask bitmask_and(table_view const& view,
-                    rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
-                    rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr)
+std::pair<rmm::device_buffer, size_type> bitmask_and(table_view const& view,
+                                                     rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
+                                                     rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr)
 {
   CUDF_FUNC_RANGE();
   rmm::device_buffer null_mask{0, stream, mr};
   if (view.num_rows() == 0 or view.num_columns() == 0) {
-    return bitmask{std::move(null_mask), 0, 0};
+    return std::make_pair(std::move(null_mask), 0);
   }
 
   std::vector<bitmask_type const*> masks;
@@ -401,18 +401,18 @@ bitmask bitmask_and(table_view const& view,
       mr);
   }
 
-  return bitmask{std::move(null_mask), 0, 0};
+  return std::make_pair(std::move(null_mask), 0);
 }
 
 // Returns the bitwise OR of the null masks of all columns in the table view
-bitmask bitmask_or(table_view const& view,
-                   rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
-                   rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr)
+std::pair<rmm::device_buffer, size_type> bitmask_or(table_view const& view,
+                                                    rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
+                                                    rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr)
 {
   CUDF_FUNC_RANGE();
   rmm::device_buffer null_mask{0, stream, mr};
   if (view.num_rows() == 0 or view.num_columns() == 0) {
-    return bitmask{std::move(null_mask), 0, 0};
+    return std::make_pair(std::move(null_mask), 0);
   }
 
   std::vector<bitmask_type const*> masks;
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ bitmask bitmask_or(table_view const& view,
       mr);
   }
 
-  return bitmask{std::move(null_mask), 0, 0};
+  return std::make_pair(std::move(null_mask), 0);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -506,12 +506,14 @@ rmm::device_buffer copy_bitmask(column_view const& view, rmm::mr::device_memory_
   return detail::copy_bitmask(view, rmm::cuda_stream_default, mr);
 }
 
-bitmask bitmask_and(table_view const& view, rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr)
+std::pair<rmm::device_buffer, size_type> bitmask_and(table_view const& view,
+                                                     rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr)
 {
   return detail::bitmask_and(view, rmm::cuda_stream_default, mr);
 }
 
-bitmask bitmask_or(table_view const& view, rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr)
+std::pair<rmm::device_buffer, size_type> bitmask_or(table_view const& view,
+                                                    rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr)
 {
   return detail::bitmask_or(view, rmm::cuda_stream_default, mr);
 }
diff --git a/cpp/src/datetime/datetime_ops.cu b/cpp/src/datetime/datetime_ops.cu
index fef720da174..7d66daf226e 100644
--- a/cpp/src/datetime/datetime_ops.cu
+++ b/cpp/src/datetime/datetime_ops.cu
@@ -364,9 +364,9 @@ std::unique_ptr<column> add_calendrical_months(column_view const& timestamp_colu
                                 stream,
                                 mr);
 
-  auto bitmask_output =
+  auto [output_null_mask, null_count] =
     cudf::detail::bitmask_and(table_view{{timestamp_column, months_column}}, stream, mr);
-  output->set_null_mask(std::move(bitmask_output.mask), bitmask_output.num_unset_bits);
+  output->set_null_mask(std::move(output_null_mask), null_count);
   return output;
 }
 
diff --git a/cpp/src/groupby/hash/groupby.cu b/cpp/src/groupby/hash/groupby.cu
index c29fc272078..1b9b2a196c3 100644
--- a/cpp/src/groupby/hash/groupby.cu
+++ b/cpp/src/groupby/hash/groupby.cu
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ void sparse_to_dense_results(table_view const& keys,
                              rmm::cuda_stream_view stream,
                              rmm::mr::device_memory_resource* mr)
 {
-  auto row_bitmask = bitmask_and(keys, stream, rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource()).mask;
+  auto row_bitmask = bitmask_and(keys, stream, rmm::mr::get_current_device_resource()).first;
   bool skip_key_rows_with_nulls = keys_have_nulls and include_null_keys == null_policy::EXCLUDE;
   bitmask_type const* row_bitmask_ptr =
     skip_key_rows_with_nulls ? static_cast<bitmask_type*>(row_bitmask.data()) : nullptr;
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ void compute_single_pass_aggs(table_view const& keys,
   bool skip_key_rows_with_nulls = keys_have_nulls and include_null_keys == null_policy::EXCLUDE;
 
   auto row_bitmask =
-    skip_key_rows_with_nulls ? cudf::detail::bitmask_and(keys, stream).mask : rmm::device_buffer{};
+    skip_key_rows_with_nulls ? cudf::detail::bitmask_and(keys, stream).first : rmm::device_buffer{};
   thrust::for_each_n(
     rmm::exec_policy(stream),
     thrust::make_counting_iterator(0),
diff --git a/cpp/src/groupby/sort/aggregate.cpp b/cpp/src/groupby/sort/aggregate.cpp
index b263cbb9732..234bb447761 100644
--- a/cpp/src/groupby/sort/aggregate.cpp
+++ b/cpp/src/groupby/sort/aggregate.cpp
@@ -538,10 +538,7 @@ void aggregate_result_functor::operator()<aggregation::MERGE_M2>(aggregation con
  */
 auto column_view_with_common_nulls(column_view const& column_0, column_view const& column_1)
 {
-  auto bitmask_output = cudf::bitmask_and(table_view{{column_0, column_1}});
-  auto new_nullmask   = std::move(bitmask_output.mask);
-  auto null_count     = bitmask_output.num_unset_bits;
-
+  auto [new_nullmask, null_count] = cudf::bitmask_and(table_view{{column_0, column_1}});
   if (null_count == 0) { return std::make_tuple(std::move(new_nullmask), column_0, column_1); }
   auto column_view_with_new_nullmask = [](auto const& col, void* nullmask, auto null_count) {
     return column_view(col.type(),
diff --git a/cpp/src/groupby/sort/sort_helper.cu b/cpp/src/groupby/sort/sort_helper.cu
index be26d9e52af..7adb4ccec76 100644
--- a/cpp/src/groupby/sort/sort_helper.cu
+++ b/cpp/src/groupby/sort/sort_helper.cu
@@ -276,13 +276,10 @@ column_view sort_groupby_helper::keys_bitmask_column(rmm::cuda_stream_view strea
 {
   if (_keys_bitmask_column) return _keys_bitmask_column->view();
 
-  auto bitmask_output = cudf::detail::bitmask_and(_keys, stream);
+  auto [row_bitmask, null_count] = cudf::detail::bitmask_and(_keys, stream);
 
-  _keys_bitmask_column = make_numeric_column(data_type(type_id::INT8),
-                                             _keys.num_rows(),
-                                             std::move(bitmask_output.mask),
-                                             bitmask_output.num_unset_bits,
-                                             stream);
+  _keys_bitmask_column = make_numeric_column(
+    data_type(type_id::INT8), _keys.num_rows(), std::move(row_bitmask), null_count, stream);
 
   auto keys_bitmask_view = _keys_bitmask_column->mutable_view();
   using T                = id_to_type<type_id::INT8>;
diff --git a/cpp/src/join/hash_join.cu b/cpp/src/join/hash_join.cu
index affde8228ce..d5065278afc 100644
--- a/cpp/src/join/hash_join.cu
+++ b/cpp/src/join/hash_join.cu
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ void build_join_hash_table(cudf::table_view const& build,
     hash_table.insert(iter, iter + build_table_num_rows, stream.value());
   } else {
     thrust::counting_iterator<size_type> stencil(0);
-    auto const row_bitmask = cudf::detail::bitmask_and(build, stream).mask;
+    auto const row_bitmask = cudf::detail::bitmask_and(build, stream).first;
     row_is_valid pred{static_cast<bitmask_type const*>(row_bitmask.data())};
 
     // insert valid rows
diff --git a/cpp/src/join/semi_join.cu b/cpp/src/join/semi_join.cu
index b6433578077..5b5dd418a97 100644
--- a/cpp/src/join/semi_join.cu
+++ b/cpp/src/join/semi_join.cu
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<rmm::device_uvector<cudf::size_type>> left_semi_anti_join(
   // contain a NULL in any column as they will never compare to equal.
   auto const row_bitmask = (compare_nulls == null_equality::EQUAL)
                              ? rmm::device_buffer{}
-                             : cudf::detail::bitmask_and(right_flattened_keys, stream).mask;
+                             : cudf::detail::bitmask_and(right_flattened_keys, stream).first;
   // skip rows that are null here.
   thrust::for_each_n(
     rmm::exec_policy(stream),
diff --git a/cpp/src/strings/repeat_strings.cu b/cpp/src/strings/repeat_strings.cu
index beaa68b9cc5..458f3ed885c 100644
--- a/cpp/src/strings/repeat_strings.cu
+++ b/cpp/src/strings/repeat_strings.cu
@@ -319,14 +319,14 @@ std::unique_ptr<column> repeat_strings(strings_column_view const& input,
   // We generate new bitmask by AND of the input columns' bitmasks.
   // Note that if the input columns are nullable, the output column will also be nullable (which may
   // not have nulls).
-  auto bitmask_out =
+  auto [null_mask, null_count] =
     cudf::detail::bitmask_and(table_view{{input.parent(), repeat_times}}, stream, mr);
 
   return make_strings_column(strings_count,
                              std::move(offsets_column),
                              std::move(chars_column),
-                             bitmask_out.num_unset_bits,
-                             std::move(bitmask_out.mask));
+                             null_count,
+                             std::move(null_mask));
 }
 
 std::pair<std::unique_ptr<column>, int64_t> repeat_strings_output_sizes(
diff --git a/cpp/src/structs/utilities.cpp b/cpp/src/structs/utilities.cpp
index 7628ea51f15..d4e2f48feba 100644
--- a/cpp/src/structs/utilities.cpp
+++ b/cpp/src/structs/utilities.cpp
@@ -379,15 +379,14 @@ std::tuple<cudf::column_view, std::vector<rmm::device_buffer>> superimpose_paren
       // and the _null_mask(). It would be better to AND the bits from the beginning, and apply
       // offset() uniformly.
       // Alternatively, one could construct a big enough buffer, and use inplace_bitwise_and.
-      auto bitmask_output = cudf::detail::bitmask_and(parent_child_null_masks,
-                                                      std::vector<size_type>{0, 0},
-                                                      child.offset() + child.size(),
-                                                      stream,
-                                                      mr);
-      ret_validity_buffers.push_back(std::move(bitmask_output.mask));
+      auto [new_mask, null_count] = cudf::detail::bitmask_and(parent_child_null_masks,
+                                                              std::vector<size_type>{0, 0},
+                                                              child.offset() + child.size(),
+                                                              stream,
+                                                              mr);
+      ret_validity_buffers.push_back(std::move(new_mask));
       return std::make_pair(
-        reinterpret_cast<bitmask_type const*>(ret_validity_buffers.back().data()),
-        bitmask_output.num_unset_bits);
+        reinterpret_cast<bitmask_type const*>(ret_validity_buffers.back().data()), null_count);
     }();
 
     return cudf::column_view(
diff --git a/cpp/tests/bitmask/bitmask_tests.cpp b/cpp/tests/bitmask/bitmask_tests.cpp
index 72853f1f15a..c7ae6e12366 100644
--- a/cpp/tests/bitmask/bitmask_tests.cpp
+++ b/cpp/tests/bitmask/bitmask_tests.cpp
@@ -545,29 +545,25 @@ TEST_F(MergeBitmaskTest, TestBitmaskAnd)
   auto const input2 = cudf::table_view({bools_col1, bools_col2});
   auto const input3 = cudf::table_view({bools_col1, bools_col2, bools_col3});
 
-  auto result1 = cudf::bitmask_and(input1);
-  auto result2 = cudf::bitmask_and(input2);
-  auto result3 = cudf::bitmask_and(input3);
+  auto [result1_mask, result1_null_count] = cudf::bitmask_and(input1);
+  auto [result2_mask, result2_null_count] = cudf::bitmask_and(input2);
+  auto [result3_mask, result3_null_count] = cudf::bitmask_and(input3);
 
-  constexpr cudf::size_type gold_valid_count = 2;
-  constexpr cudf::size_type gold_null_count  = 3;
+  constexpr cudf::size_type gold_null_count = 3;
 
-  EXPECT_EQ(result1.num_set_bits, 0);
-  EXPECT_EQ(result1.num_unset_bits, 0);
-  EXPECT_EQ(result2.num_set_bits, gold_valid_count);
-  EXPECT_EQ(result2.num_unset_bits, gold_null_count);
-  EXPECT_EQ(result3.num_set_bits, gold_valid_count);
-  EXPECT_EQ(result3.num_unset_bits, gold_null_count);
+  EXPECT_EQ(result1_null_count, 0);
+  EXPECT_EQ(result2_null_count, gold_null_count);
+  EXPECT_EQ(result3_null_count, gold_null_count);
 
   auto odd_indices =
     cudf::detail::make_counting_transform_iterator(0, [](auto i) { return i % 2; });
   auto odd = cudf::test::detail::make_null_mask(odd_indices, odd_indices + input2.num_rows());
 
-  EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, result1.mask.data());
+  EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, result1_mask.data());
   CUDF_TEST_EXPECT_EQUAL_BUFFERS(
-    result2.mask.data(), odd.data(), cudf::num_bitmask_words(input2.num_rows()));
+    result2_mask.data(), odd.data(), cudf::num_bitmask_words(input2.num_rows()));
   CUDF_TEST_EXPECT_EQUAL_BUFFERS(
-    result3.mask.data(), odd.data(), cudf::num_bitmask_words(input2.num_rows()));
+    result3_mask.data(), odd.data(), cudf::num_bitmask_words(input2.num_rows()));
 }
 
 TEST_F(MergeBitmaskTest, TestBitmaskOr)
@@ -580,29 +576,23 @@ TEST_F(MergeBitmaskTest, TestBitmaskOr)
   auto const input2 = cudf::table_view({bools_col1, bools_col2});
   auto const input3 = cudf::table_view({bools_col1, bools_col2, bools_col3});
 
-  auto result1 = cudf::bitmask_or(input1);
-  auto result2 = cudf::bitmask_or(input2);
-  auto result3 = cudf::bitmask_or(input3);
+  auto [result1_mask, result1_null_count] = cudf::bitmask_or(input1);
+  auto [result2_mask, result2_null_count] = cudf::bitmask_or(input2);
+  auto [result3_mask, result3_null_count] = cudf::bitmask_or(input3);
 
-  constexpr cudf::size_type gold_valid_count = 4;
-  constexpr cudf::size_type gold_null_count  = 1;
-
-  EXPECT_EQ(result1.num_set_bits, 0);
-  EXPECT_EQ(result1.num_unset_bits, 0);
-  EXPECT_EQ(result2.num_set_bits, gold_valid_count);
-  EXPECT_EQ(result2.num_unset_bits, gold_null_count);
-  EXPECT_EQ(result3.num_set_bits, 0);
-  EXPECT_EQ(result3.num_unset_bits, 0);
+  EXPECT_EQ(result1_null_count, 0);
+  EXPECT_EQ(result2_null_count, 1);
+  EXPECT_EQ(result3_null_count, 0);
 
   auto all_but_index3 =
     cudf::detail::make_counting_transform_iterator(0, [](auto i) { return i != 3; });
   auto null3 =
     cudf::test::detail::make_null_mask(all_but_index3, all_but_index3 + input2.num_rows());
 
-  EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, result1.mask.data());
+  EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, result1_mask.data());
   CUDF_TEST_EXPECT_EQUAL_BUFFERS(
-    result2.mask.data(), null3.data(), cudf::num_bitmask_words(input2.num_rows()));
-  EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, result3.mask.data());
+    result2_mask.data(), null3.data(), cudf::num_bitmask_words(input2.num_rows()));
+  EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, result3_mask.data());
 }
 
 CUDF_TEST_PROGRAM_MAIN()
diff --git a/java/src/main/native/src/ColumnViewJni.cpp b/java/src/main/native/src/ColumnViewJni.cpp
index 679f66887a7..5ae9fd03063 100644
--- a/java/src/main/native/src/ColumnViewJni.cpp
+++ b/java/src/main/native/src/ColumnViewJni.cpp
@@ -1493,13 +1493,13 @@ JNIEXPORT jlong JNICALL Java_ai_rapids_cudf_ColumnView_bitwiseMergeAndSetValidit
     cudf::binary_operator op = static_cast<cudf::binary_operator>(bin_op);
     switch (op) {
       case cudf::binary_operator::BITWISE_AND: {
-        auto bitmask_output = cudf::bitmask_and(*input_table);
-        copy->set_null_mask(std::move(bitmask_output.mask), bitmask_output.num_unset_bits);
+        auto [new_bitmask, null_count] = cudf::bitmask_and(*input_table);
+        copy->set_null_mask(std::move(new_bitmask), null_count);
         break;
       }
       case cudf::binary_operator::BITWISE_OR: {
-        auto bitmask_output = cudf::bitmask_or(*input_table);
-        copy->set_null_mask(std::move(bitmask_output.mask), bitmask_output.num_unset_bits);
+        auto [new_bitmask, null_count] = cudf::bitmask_or(*input_table);
+        copy->set_null_mask(std::move(new_bitmask), null_count);
         break;
       }
       default: JNI_THROW_NEW(env, cudf::jni::ILLEGAL_ARG_CLASS, "Unsupported merge operation", 0);