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# Use StringStream to build large strings

MAXScript FAQ > How To Make It Faster > Use StringStream to build large strings

If building strings, use a StringStream value to accumulate the string and then convert to a string.

Each string addition creates a new string.

FOR EXAMPLE:
    a ="AAA"
    b = a + a + a +a + a + a
    --Creates 6 strings of length 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18
    a ="AAA"
    b = (a + a + a) + (a + a + a)
    --Creates 6 strings of length 3, 6, 9, 6, 9, 18

TEST CASES:
    fn test5a =
    (
     local a =""
     for i = 1 to 100 do a += (i as string)
    )
    fn test 5b =
    (
     local ss = stringstream""
     for i = 1 to 100 do format "%"(i as string) to:ss
     ss as string
    )
    fntest5c =
    (
     local ss = stringstream"",fmt ="%"
     for i= 1 to 100 do format fmt (i as string) to:ss
     ss as string
    )
    fn test5d =
    (
     local ss = stringstream"",fmt ="%"
     for i = 1 to 100 do format fmt ito:ss
     ss as string
    )

FOR 100,000 ITERATIONS:
    test5a()     -- 58875 msec., 505 MB
    test5b()     -- 54672 msec., 39.2 MB
    test5c()     -- 41125 msec., 29.2 MB
    test5d()     -- 13532 msec., 10.0 MB

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