diff --git a/src/browser/Page.zig b/src/browser/Page.zig
index 688c9cb2..1b068374 100644
--- a/src/browser/Page.zig
+++ b/src/browser/Page.zig
@@ -1360,10 +1360,8 @@ pub fn appendNew(self: *Page, parent: *Node, child: Node.NodeOrText) !void {
             if (parent.lastChild()) |sibling| {
                 if (sibling.is(CData.Text)) |tn| {
                     const cdata = tn._proto;
-                    const existing = cdata.getData();
-                    // @metric
-                    // Inefficient, but we don't expect this to happen often.
-                    cdata._data = try std.mem.concat(self.arena, u8, &.{ existing, txt });
+                    const existing = cdata.getData().str();
+                    cdata._data = try String.concat(self.arena, &.{ existing, txt });
                     return;
                 }
             }
@@ -2193,28 +2191,24 @@ fn populateElementAttributes(self: *Page, element: *Element, list: anytype) !voi
 }
 
 pub fn createTextNode(self: *Page, text: []const u8) !*Node {
-    // might seem unlikely that we get an intern hit, but we'll get some nodes
-    // with just '\n'
-    const owned_text = try self.dupeString(text);
     const cd = try self._factory.node(CData{
         ._proto = undefined,
         ._type = .{ .text = .{
             ._proto = undefined,
         } },
-        ._data = owned_text,
+        ._data = try self.dupeSSO(text),
     });
     cd._type.text._proto = cd;
     return cd.asNode();
 }
 
 pub fn createComment(self: *Page, text: []const u8) !*Node {
-    const owned_text = try self.dupeString(text);
     const cd = try self._factory.node(CData{
         ._proto = undefined,
         ._type = .{ .comment = .{
             ._proto = undefined,
         } },
-        ._data = owned_text,
+        ._data = try self.dupeSSO(text),
     });
     cd._type.comment._proto = cd;
     return cd.asNode();
@@ -2226,8 +2220,6 @@ pub fn createCDATASection(self: *Page, data: []const u8) !*Node {
         return error.InvalidCharacterError;
     }
 
-    const owned_data = try self.dupeString(data);
-
     // First allocate the Text node separately
     const text_node = try self._factory.create(CData.Text{
         ._proto = undefined,
@@ -2239,7 +2231,7 @@ pub fn createCDATASection(self: *Page, data: []const u8) !*Node {
         ._type = .{ .cdata_section = .{
             ._proto = text_node,
         } },
-        ._data = owned_data,
+        ._data = try self.dupeSSO(data),
     });
 
     // Set up the back pointer from Text to CData
@@ -2261,7 +2253,6 @@ pub fn createProcessingInstruction(self: *Page, target: []const u8, data: []cons
     try validateXmlName(target);
 
     const owned_target = try self.dupeString(target);
-    const owned_data = try self.dupeString(data);
 
     const pi = try self._factory.create(CData.ProcessingInstruction{
         ._proto = undefined,
@@ -2271,7 +2262,7 @@ pub fn createProcessingInstruction(self: *Page, target: []const u8, data: []cons
     const cd = try self._factory.node(CData{
         ._proto = undefined,
         ._type = .{ .processing_instruction = pi },
-        ._data = owned_data,
+        ._data = try self.dupeSSO(data),
     });
 
     // Set up the back pointer from ProcessingInstruction to CData
@@ -2344,6 +2335,10 @@ pub fn dupeString(self: *Page, value: []const u8) ![]const u8 {
     return self.arena.dupe(u8, value);
 }
 
+pub fn dupeSSO(self: *Page, value: []const u8) !String {
+    return String.init(self.arena, value, .{ .dupe = true });
+}
+
 const RemoveNodeOpts = struct {
     will_be_reconnected: bool,
 };
@@ -2747,7 +2742,7 @@ pub fn setCustomizedBuiltInDefinition(self: *Page, element: *Element, definition
 pub fn characterDataChange(
     self: *Page,
     target: *Node,
-    old_value: []const u8,
+    old_value: String,
 ) void {
     var it: ?*std.DoublyLinkedList.Node = self._mutation_observers.first;
     while (it) |node| : (it = node.next) {
diff --git a/src/browser/dump.zig b/src/browser/dump.zig
index ad7402fe..bb666e7f 100644
--- a/src/browser/dump.zig
+++ b/src/browser/dump.zig
@@ -82,19 +82,19 @@ fn _deep(node: *Node, opts: Opts, comptime force_slot: bool, writer: *std.Io.Wri
         .cdata => |cd| {
             if (node.is(Node.CData.Comment)) |_| {
                 try writer.writeAll("<!--");
-                try writer.writeAll(cd.getData());
+                try writer.writeAll(cd.getData().str());
                 try writer.writeAll("-->");
             } else if (node.is(Node.CData.ProcessingInstruction)) |pi| {
                 try writer.writeAll("<?");
                 try writer.writeAll(pi._target);
                 try writer.writeAll(" ");
-                try writer.writeAll(cd.getData());
+                try writer.writeAll(cd.getData().str());
                 try writer.writeAll("?>");
             } else {
                 if (shouldEscapeText(node._parent)) {
-                    try writeEscapedText(cd.getData(), writer);
+                    try writeEscapedText(cd.getData().str(), writer);
                 } else {
-                    try writer.writeAll(cd.getData());
+                    try writer.writeAll(cd.getData().str());
                 }
             }
         },
diff --git a/src/browser/markdown.zig b/src/browser/markdown.zig
index cdb8e87c..26a281bf 100644
--- a/src/browser/markdown.zig
+++ b/src/browser/markdown.zig
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ fn render(node: *Node, state: *State, writer: *std.Io.Writer, page: *Page) error
         },
         .cdata => |cd| {
             if (node.is(Node.CData.Text)) |_| {
-                var text = cd.getData();
+                var text = cd.getData().str();
                 if (state.pre_node) |pre| {
                     if (node.parentNode() == pre and node.nextSibling() == null) {
                         text = std.mem.trimRight(u8, text, " \t\r\n");
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/CData.zig b/src/browser/webapi/CData.zig
index 52a555b4..13e075ad 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/CData.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/CData.zig
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 // along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 const std = @import("std");
+const String = @import("../../string.zig").String;
 
 const js = @import("../js/js.zig");
 const Page = @import("../Page.zig");
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ const CData = @This();
 
 _type: Type,
 _proto: *Node,
-_data: []const u8 = "",
+_data: String = .empty,
 
 /// Count UTF-16 code units in a UTF-8 string.
 /// 4-byte UTF-8 sequences (codepoints >= U+10000) produce 2 UTF-16 code units (surrogate pair),
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ pub fn is(self: *CData, comptime T: type) ?*T {
     return null;
 }
 
-pub fn getData(self: *const CData) []const u8 {
+pub fn getData(self: *const CData) String {
     return self._data;
 }
 
@@ -172,7 +173,7 @@ pub fn render(self: *const CData, writer: *std.io.Writer, opts: RenderOpts) !boo
     var start: usize = 0;
     var prev_w: ?bool = null;
     var is_w: bool = undefined;
-    const s = self._data;
+    const s = self._data.str();
 
     for (s, 0..) |c, i| {
         is_w = std.ascii.isWhitespace(c);
@@ -222,9 +223,9 @@ pub fn setData(self: *CData, value: ?[]const u8, page: *Page) !void {
     const old_value = self._data;
 
     if (value) |v| {
-        self._data = try page.dupeString(v);
+        self._data = try page.dupeSSO(v);
     } else {
-        self._data = "";
+        self._data = .empty;
     }
 
     page.characterDataChange(self.asNode(), old_value);
@@ -243,15 +244,15 @@ pub fn _setData(self: *CData, value: js.Value, page: *Page) !void {
 
 pub fn format(self: *const CData, writer: *std.io.Writer) !void {
     return switch (self._type) {
-        .text => writer.print("<text>{s}</text>", .{self._data}),
-        .comment => writer.print("<!-- {s} -->", .{self._data}),
-        .cdata_section => writer.print("<![CDATA[{s}]]>", .{self._data}),
-        .processing_instruction => |pi| writer.print("<?{s} {s}?>", .{ pi._target, self._data }),
+        .text => writer.print("<text>{f}</text>", .{self._data}),
+        .comment => writer.print("<!-- {f} -->", .{self._data}),
+        .cdata_section => writer.print("<![CDATA[{f}]]>", .{self._data}),
+        .processing_instruction => |pi| writer.print("<?{s} {f}?>", .{ pi._target, self._data }),
     };
 }
 
 pub fn getLength(self: *const CData) usize {
-    return utf16Len(self._data);
+    return utf16Len(self._data.str());
 }
 
 pub fn isEqualNode(self: *const CData, other: *const CData) bool {
@@ -267,58 +268,64 @@ pub fn isEqualNode(self: *const CData, other: *const CData) bool {
         // if the _targets are equal, we still want to compare the data
     }
 
-    return std.mem.eql(u8, self.getData(), other.getData());
+    return self._data.eql(other._data);
 }
 
 pub fn appendData(self: *CData, data: []const u8, page: *Page) !void {
-    const new_data = try std.mem.concat(page.arena, u8, &.{ self._data, data });
-    try self.setData(new_data, page);
+    const old_value = self._data;
+    self._data = try String.concat(page.arena, &.{ self._data.str(), data });
+    page.characterDataChange(self.asNode(), old_value);
 }
 
 pub fn deleteData(self: *CData, offset: usize, count: usize, page: *Page) !void {
     const end_utf16 = std.math.add(usize, offset, count) catch std.math.maxInt(usize);
-    const range = try utf16RangeToUtf8(self._data, offset, end_utf16);
+    const range = try utf16RangeToUtf8(self._data.str(), offset, end_utf16);
 
-    // Just slice - original data stays in arena
-    const old_value = self._data;
+    const old_data = self._data;
+    const old_value = old_data.str();
     if (range.start == 0) {
-        self._data = self._data[range.end..];
-    } else if (range.end >= self._data.len) {
-        self._data = self._data[0..range.start];
+        self._data = try page.dupeSSO(old_value[range.end..]);
+    } else if (range.end >= old_value.len) {
+        self._data = try page.dupeSSO(old_value[0..range.start]);
     } else {
-        self._data = try std.mem.concat(page.arena, u8, &.{
-            self._data[0..range.start],
-            self._data[range.end..],
+        // Deleting from middle - concat prefix and suffix
+        self._data = try String.concat(page.arena, &.{
+            old_value[0..range.start],
+            old_value[range.end..],
         });
     }
-    page.characterDataChange(self.asNode(), old_value);
+    page.characterDataChange(self.asNode(), old_data);
 }
 
 pub fn insertData(self: *CData, offset: usize, data: []const u8, page: *Page) !void {
-    const byte_offset = try utf16OffsetToUtf8(self._data, offset);
-    const new_data = try std.mem.concat(page.arena, u8, &.{
-        self._data[0..byte_offset],
+    const byte_offset = try utf16OffsetToUtf8(self._data.str(), offset);
+    const old_value = self._data;
+    const existing = old_value.str();
+    self._data = try String.concat(page.arena, &.{
+        existing[0..byte_offset],
         data,
-        self._data[byte_offset..],
+        existing[byte_offset..],
     });
-    try self.setData(new_data, page);
+    page.characterDataChange(self.asNode(), old_value);
 }
 
 pub fn replaceData(self: *CData, offset: usize, count: usize, data: []const u8, page: *Page) !void {
     const end_utf16 = std.math.add(usize, offset, count) catch std.math.maxInt(usize);
-    const range = try utf16RangeToUtf8(self._data, offset, end_utf16);
-    const new_data = try std.mem.concat(page.arena, u8, &.{
-        self._data[0..range.start],
+    const range = try utf16RangeToUtf8(self._data.str(), offset, end_utf16);
+    const old_value = self._data;
+    const existing = old_value.str();
+    self._data = try String.concat(page.arena, &.{
+        existing[0..range.start],
         data,
-        self._data[range.end..],
+        existing[range.end..],
     });
-    try self.setData(new_data, page);
+    page.characterDataChange(self.asNode(), old_value);
 }
 
 pub fn substringData(self: *const CData, offset: usize, count: usize) ![]const u8 {
     const end_utf16 = std.math.add(usize, offset, count) catch std.math.maxInt(usize);
-    const range = try utf16RangeToUtf8(self._data, offset, end_utf16);
-    return self._data[range.start..range.end];
+    const range = try utf16RangeToUtf8(self._data.str(), offset, end_utf16);
+    return self._data.str()[range.start..range.end];
 }
 
 pub fn remove(self: *CData, page: *Page) !void {
@@ -451,7 +458,7 @@ test "WebApi: CData.render" {
         const cdata = CData{
             ._type = .{ .text = undefined },
             ._proto = undefined,
-            ._data = test_case.value,
+            ._data = .wrap(test_case.value),
         };
 
         const result = try cdata.render(&buffer.writer, test_case.opts);
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/MutationObserver.zig b/src/browser/webapi/MutationObserver.zig
index 68d85fb4..a5dd15dd 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/MutationObserver.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/MutationObserver.zig
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ pub fn notifyAttributeChange(
 pub fn notifyCharacterDataChange(
     self: *MutationObserver,
     target: *Node,
-    old_value: ?[]const u8,
+    old_value: ?String,
     page: *Page,
 ) !void {
     for (self._observing.items) |obs| {
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ pub fn notifyCharacterDataChange(
             ._target = target,
             ._attribute_name = null,
             ._old_value = if (obs.options.characterDataOldValue and old_value != null)
-                try arena.dupe(u8, old_value.?)
+                try arena.dupe(u8, old_value.?.str())
             else
                 null,
             ._added_nodes = &.{},
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/Node.zig b/src/browser/webapi/Node.zig
index 7849622a..a62b0b95 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/Node.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/Node.zig
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ pub fn getTextContent(self: *Node, writer: *std.Io.Writer) error{WriteFailed}!vo
                 try child.getTextContent(writer);
             }
         },
-        .cdata => |c| try writer.writeAll(c.getData()),
+        .cdata => |c| try writer.writeAll(c.getData().str()),
         .document => {},
         .document_type => {},
         .attribute => |attr| try writer.writeAll(attr._value.str()),
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ pub fn setTextContent(self: *Node, data: []const u8, page: *Page) !void {
             }
             return el.replaceChildren(&.{.{ .text = data }}, page);
         },
-        .cdata => |c| c._data = try page.arena.dupe(u8, data),
+        .cdata => |c| c._data = try page.dupeSSO(data),
         .document => {},
         .document_type => {},
         .document_fragment => |frag| {
@@ -599,10 +599,10 @@ pub fn replaceChild(self: *Node, new_child: *Node, old_child: *Node, page: *Page
     return old_child;
 }
 
-pub fn getNodeValue(self: *const Node) ?[]const u8 {
+pub fn getNodeValue(self: *const Node) ?String {
     return switch (self._type) {
         .cdata => |c| c.getData(),
-        .attribute => |attr| attr._value.str(),
+        .attribute => |attr| attr._value,
         .element => null,
         .document => null,
         .document_type => null,
@@ -694,10 +694,10 @@ pub fn getChildAt(self: *Node, index: u32) ?*Node {
     return null;
 }
 
-pub fn getData(self: *const Node) []const u8 {
+pub fn getData(self: *const Node) String {
     return switch (self._type) {
         .cdata => |c| c.getData(),
-        else => "",
+        else => .empty,
     };
 }
 
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ pub fn cloneNode(self: *Node, deep_: ?bool, page: *Page) CloneError!*Node {
     const deep = deep_ orelse false;
     switch (self._type) {
         .cdata => |cd| {
-            const data = cd.getData();
+            const data = cd.getData().str();
             return switch (cd._type) {
                 .text => page.createTextNode(data),
                 .cdata_section => page.createCDATASection(data),
@@ -884,7 +884,7 @@ fn _normalize(self: *Node, allocator: Allocator, buffer: *std.ArrayList(u8), pag
                     next_node = node_to_merge.nextSibling();
                     page.removeNode(self, to_remove, .{ .will_be_reconnected = false });
                 }
-                text_node._proto._data = try page.dupeString(buffer.items);
+                text_node._proto._data = try page.dupeSSO(buffer.items);
                 buffer.clearRetainingCapacity();
             }
         }
@@ -1028,7 +1028,7 @@ pub const JsApi = struct {
                 try self.getTextContent(&buf.writer);
                 return buf.written();
             },
-            .cdata => |cdata| return cdata.getData(),
+            .cdata => |cdata| return cdata.getData().str(),
             .attribute => |attr| return attr._value.str(),
             .document => return null,
             .document_type => return null,
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/Range.zig b/src/browser/webapi/Range.zig
index 758f81e7..d7e7d8c5 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/Range.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/Range.zig
@@ -17,9 +17,11 @@
 // along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 const std = @import("std");
-const js = @import("../js/js.zig");
+const String = @import("../../string.zig").String;
 
+const js = @import("../js/js.zig");
 const Page = @import("../Page.zig");
+
 const Node = @import("Node.zig");
 const DocumentFragment = @import("DocumentFragment.zig");
 const AbstractRange = @import("AbstractRange.zig");
@@ -326,7 +328,7 @@ pub fn insertNode(self: *Range, node: *Node, page: *Page) !void {
         if (offset == 0) {
             _ = try parent.insertBefore(node, container, page);
         } else {
-            const text_data = container.getData();
+            const text_data = container.getData().str();
             if (offset >= text_data.len) {
                 _ = try parent.insertBefore(node, container.nextSibling(), page);
             } else {
@@ -362,15 +364,15 @@ pub fn deleteContents(self: *Range, page: *Page) !void {
 
     // Simple case: same container
     if (self._proto._start_container == self._proto._end_container) {
-        if (self._proto._start_container.is(Node.CData)) |_| {
+        if (self._proto._start_container.is(Node.CData)) |cdata| {
             // Delete part of text node
-            const text_data = self._proto._start_container.getData();
-            const new_text = try std.mem.concat(
+            const old_value = cdata.getData();
+            const text_data = old_value.str();
+            cdata._data = try String.concat(
                 page.arena,
-                u8,
                 &.{ text_data[0..self._proto._start_offset], text_data[self._proto._end_offset..] },
             );
-            try self._proto._start_container.setData(new_text, page);
+            page.characterDataChange(self._proto._start_container, old_value);
         } else {
             // Delete child nodes in range
             var offset = self._proto._start_offset;
@@ -387,7 +389,7 @@ pub fn deleteContents(self: *Range, page: *Page) !void {
     // Complex case: different containers
     // Handle start container - if it's a text node, truncate it
     if (self._proto._start_container.is(Node.CData)) |_| {
-        const text_data = self._proto._start_container.getData();
+        const text_data = self._proto._start_container.getData().str();
         if (self._proto._start_offset < text_data.len) {
             // Keep only the part before start_offset
             const new_text = text_data[0..self._proto._start_offset];
@@ -397,7 +399,7 @@ pub fn deleteContents(self: *Range, page: *Page) !void {
 
     // Handle end container - if it's a text node, truncate it
     if (self._proto._end_container.is(Node.CData)) |_| {
-        const text_data = self._proto._end_container.getData();
+        const text_data = self._proto._end_container.getData().str();
         if (self._proto._end_offset < text_data.len) {
             // Keep only the part from end_offset onwards
             const new_text = text_data[self._proto._end_offset..];
@@ -433,7 +435,7 @@ pub fn cloneContents(self: *const Range, page: *Page) !*DocumentFragment {
     if (self._proto._start_container == self._proto._end_container) {
         if (self._proto._start_container.is(Node.CData)) |_| {
             // Clone part of text node
-            const text_data = self._proto._start_container.getData();
+            const text_data = self._proto._start_container.getData().str();
             if (self._proto._start_offset < text_data.len and self._proto._end_offset <= text_data.len) {
                 const cloned_text = text_data[self._proto._start_offset..self._proto._end_offset];
                 const text_node = try page.createTextNode(cloned_text);
@@ -453,7 +455,7 @@ pub fn cloneContents(self: *const Range, page: *Page) !*DocumentFragment {
         // Complex case: different containers
         // Clone partial start container
         if (self._proto._start_container.is(Node.CData)) |_| {
-            const text_data = self._proto._start_container.getData();
+            const text_data = self._proto._start_container.getData().str();
             if (self._proto._start_offset < text_data.len) {
                 // Clone from start_offset to end of text
                 const cloned_text = text_data[self._proto._start_offset..];
@@ -474,7 +476,7 @@ pub fn cloneContents(self: *const Range, page: *Page) !*DocumentFragment {
 
         // Clone partial end container
         if (self._proto._end_container.is(Node.CData)) |_| {
-            const text_data = self._proto._end_container.getData();
+            const text_data = self._proto._end_container.getData().str();
             if (self._proto._end_offset > 0 and self._proto._end_offset <= text_data.len) {
                 // Clone from start to end_offset
                 const cloned_text = text_data[0..self._proto._end_offset];
@@ -560,7 +562,7 @@ fn writeTextContent(self: *const Range, writer: *std.Io.Writer) !void {
     if (start_node == end_node) {
         if (start_node.is(Node.CData)) |cdata| {
             if (!isCommentOrPI(cdata)) {
-                const data = cdata.getData();
+                const data = cdata.getData().str();
                 const s = @min(start_offset, data.len);
                 const e = @min(end_offset, data.len);
                 try writer.writeAll(data[s..e]);
@@ -574,7 +576,7 @@ fn writeTextContent(self: *const Range, writer: *std.Io.Writer) !void {
     // Partial start: if start container is a text node, write from offset to end
     if (start_node.is(Node.CData)) |cdata| {
         if (!isCommentOrPI(cdata)) {
-            const data = cdata.getData();
+            const data = cdata.getData().str();
             const s = @min(start_offset, data.len);
             try writer.writeAll(data[s..]);
         }
@@ -601,7 +603,7 @@ fn writeTextContent(self: *const Range, writer: *std.Io.Writer) !void {
             }
             if (n.is(Node.CData)) |cdata| {
                 if (!isCommentOrPI(cdata)) {
-                    try writer.writeAll(cdata.getData());
+                    try writer.writeAll(cdata.getData().str());
                 }
             }
             current = nextInTreeOrder(n, root);
@@ -612,7 +614,7 @@ fn writeTextContent(self: *const Range, writer: *std.Io.Writer) !void {
     if (start_node != end_node) {
         if (end_node.is(Node.CData)) |cdata| {
             if (!isCommentOrPI(cdata)) {
-                const data = cdata.getData();
+                const data = cdata.getData().str();
                 const e = @min(end_offset, data.len);
                 try writer.writeAll(data[0..e]);
             }
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/Selection.zig b/src/browser/webapi/Selection.zig
index 9320fcfd..a13390a3 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/Selection.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/Selection.zig
@@ -500,20 +500,20 @@ fn modifyByWord(self: *Selection, alter: ModifyAlter, forward: bool, range: *Ran
 
     if (isTextNode(focus_node)) {
         if (forward) {
-            const i = nextWordEnd(new_node.getData(), new_offset);
+            const i = nextWordEnd(new_node.getData().str(), new_offset);
             if (i > new_offset) {
                 new_offset = i;
             } else if (nextTextNode(focus_node)) |next| {
                 new_node = next;
-                new_offset = nextWordEnd(next.getData(), 0);
+                new_offset = nextWordEnd(next.getData().str(), 0);
             }
         } else {
-            const i = prevWordStart(new_node.getData(), new_offset);
+            const i = prevWordStart(new_node.getData().str(), new_offset);
             if (i < new_offset) {
                 new_offset = i;
             } else if (prevTextNode(focus_node)) |prev| {
                 new_node = prev;
-                new_offset = prevWordStart(prev.getData(), @intCast(prev.getData().len));
+                new_offset = prevWordStart(prev.getData().str(), @intCast(prev.getData().len));
             }
         }
     } else {
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ fn modifyByWord(self: *Selection, alter: ModifyAlter, forward: bool, range: *Ran
             const child = focus_node.getChildAt(focus_offset) orelse {
                 if (nextTextNodeAfter(focus_node)) |next| {
                     new_node = next;
-                    new_offset = nextWordEnd(next.getData(), 0);
+                    new_offset = nextWordEnd(next.getData().str(), 0);
                 }
                 return self.applyModify(alter, new_node, new_offset, page);
             };
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ fn modifyByWord(self: *Selection, alter: ModifyAlter, forward: bool, range: *Ran
             };
 
             new_node = t;
-            new_offset = nextWordEnd(t.getData(), 0);
+            new_offset = nextWordEnd(t.getData().str(), 0);
         } else {
             var idx = focus_offset;
             while (idx > 0) {
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ fn modifyByWord(self: *Selection, alter: ModifyAlter, forward: bool, range: *Ran
                 while (bottom.lastChild()) |c| bottom = c;
                 if (isTextNode(bottom)) {
                     new_node = bottom;
-                    new_offset = prevWordStart(bottom.getData(), bottom.getLength());
+                    new_offset = prevWordStart(bottom.getData().str(), bottom.getLength());
                     break;
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/cdata/Text.zig b/src/browser/webapi/cdata/Text.zig
index 1e5e644d..5eb096f3 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/cdata/Text.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/cdata/Text.zig
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 // along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+const String = @import("../../../string.zig").String;
 const js = @import("../../js/js.zig");
 const Page = @import("../../Page.zig");
 const CData = @import("../CData.zig");
@@ -30,11 +31,11 @@ pub fn init(str: ?js.NullableString, page: *Page) !*Text {
 }
 
 pub fn getWholeText(self: *Text) []const u8 {
-    return self._proto._data;
+    return self._proto._data.str();
 }
 
 pub fn splitText(self: *Text, offset: usize, page: *Page) !*Text {
-    const data = self._proto._data;
+    const data = self._proto._data.str();
 
     const byte_offset = CData.utf16OffsetToUtf8(data, offset) catch return error.IndexSizeError;
 
diff --git a/src/browser/webapi/element/html/TextArea.zig b/src/browser/webapi/element/html/TextArea.zig
index 916f67d8..e08831a2 100644
--- a/src/browser/webapi/element/html/TextArea.zig
+++ b/src/browser/webapi/element/html/TextArea.zig
@@ -88,18 +88,16 @@ pub fn getDefaultValue(self: *const TextArea) []const u8 {
 }
 
 pub fn setDefaultValue(self: *TextArea, value: []const u8, page: *Page) !void {
-    const owned = try page.dupeString(value);
-
     const node = self.asNode();
     if (node.firstChild()) |child| {
         if (child.is(Node.CData.Text)) |txt| {
-            txt._proto._data = owned;
+            txt._proto._data = try page.dupeSSO(value);
             return;
         }
     }
 
     // No text child exists, create one
-    const text_node = try page.createTextNode(owned);
+    const text_node = try page.createTextNode(value);
     _ = try node.appendChild(text_node, page);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/cdp/Node.zig b/src/cdp/Node.zig
index 885fa93b..a1f688f1 100644
--- a/src/cdp/Node.zig
+++ b/src/cdp/Node.zig
@@ -307,7 +307,11 @@ pub const Writer = struct {
         try w.write(dom_node.getNodeName(&name_buf));
 
         try w.objectField("nodeValue");
-        try w.write(dom_node.getNodeValue() orelse "");
+        if (dom_node.getNodeValue()) |nv| {
+            try w.write(nv.str());
+        } else {
+            try w.write("");
+        }
 
         if (include_child_count) {
             try w.objectField("childNodeCount");
diff --git a/src/string.zig b/src/string.zig
index bbbc374a..202cfdc9 100644
--- a/src/string.zig
+++ b/src/string.zig
@@ -111,6 +111,38 @@ pub const String = packed struct {
         return .init(allocator, self.str(), .{ .dupe = true });
     }
 
+    pub fn concat(allocator: Allocator, parts: []const []const u8) !String {
+        var total_len: usize = 0;
+        for (parts) |part| {
+            total_len += part.len;
+        }
+
+        if (total_len <= 12) {
+            var content: [12]u8 = @splat(0);
+            var pos: usize = 0;
+            for (parts) |part| {
+                @memcpy(content[pos..][0..part.len], part);
+                pos += part.len;
+            }
+            return .{ .len = @intCast(total_len), .payload = .{ .content = content } };
+        }
+
+        const result = try allocator.alloc(u8, total_len);
+        var pos: usize = 0;
+        for (parts) |part| {
+            @memcpy(result[pos..][0..part.len], part);
+            pos += part.len;
+        }
+
+        return .{
+            .len = @intCast(total_len),
+            .payload = .{ .heap = .{
+                .prefix = result[0..4].*,
+                .ptr = (intern(result) orelse result).ptr,
+            } },
+        };
+    }
+
     pub fn str(self: *const String) []const u8 {
         const l = self.len;
         if (l < 0) {
@@ -272,3 +304,118 @@ test "String" {
         try testing.expectEqual(false, str.eqlSlice("other_long" ** 100));
     }
 }
+
+test "String.concat" {
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{});
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(usize, 0), result.str().len);
+        try testing.expectEqual("", result.str());
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{"hello"});
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("hello", result.str());
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ "foo", "bar" });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("foobar", result.str());
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 6), result.len);
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ "test", "ing", "1234" });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("testing1234", result.str());
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 11), result.len);
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ "foo", "bar", "baz", "qux" });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("foobarbazqux", result.str());
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 12), result.len);
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ "hello", " world!" });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("hello world!", result.str());
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 12), result.len);
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ "a", "b", "c", "d", "e" });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("abcde", result.str());
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 5), result.len);
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ "one", " ", "two", " ", "three", " ", "four" });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("one two three four", result.str());
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 18), result.len);
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ "hello", "", "world" });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("helloworld", result.str());
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ "", "", "" });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("", result.str());
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 0), result.len);
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ "café", " ☕" });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("café ☕", result.str());
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ "Hello ", "世界", " and ", "مرحبا" });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("Hello 世界 and مرحبا", result.str());
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ " ", "test", " " });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual(" test ", result.str());
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ "  ", "  " });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("    ", result.str());
+        try testing.expectEqual(@as(i32, 4), result.len);
+    }
+
+    {
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ "Item ", "1", "2", "3" });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("Item 123", result.str());
+    }
+
+    {
+        const original = "Hello, world!";
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ original[0..5], original[7..] });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("Helloworld!", result.str());
+    }
+
+    {
+        const original = "Hello!";
+        const result = try String.concat(testing.allocator, &.{ original[0..5], " world", original[5..] });
+        defer result.deinit(testing.allocator);
+        try testing.expectEqual("Hello world!", result.str());
+    }
+}