diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/GDB.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/GDB.cpp
index 20e6c82cd4..5c6eb11396 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/GDB.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/GDB.cpp
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ std::string u32_to_padded_hex(u32 value)
 template <typename T>
 T hex_to(std::string_view val)
 {
-	T result;
+	T result {};
 	auto [ptr, err] = std::from_chars(val.data(), val.data() + val.size(), result, 16);
 	if (err != std::errc())
 	{
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ void gdb_thread::ack(bool accepted)
 	send_char(accepted ? '+' : '-');
 }
 
-void gdb_thread::send_cmd(const std::string& cmd)
+void gdb_thread::send_cmd(std::string_view cmd)
 {
 	u8 checksum = 0;
 	std::string buf;
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ void gdb_thread::send_cmd(const std::string& cmd)
 	send(buf.c_str(), static_cast<int>(buf.length()));
 }
 
-bool gdb_thread::send_cmd_ack(const std::string& cmd)
+bool gdb_thread::send_cmd_ack(std::string_view cmd)
 {
 	while (true)
 	{
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ std::string gdb_thread::get_reg(ppu_thread* thread, u32 rid)
 	}
 }
 
-bool gdb_thread::set_reg(ppu_thread* thread, u32 rid, const std::string& value)
+bool gdb_thread::set_reg(ppu_thread* thread, u32 rid, std::string_view value)
 {
 	switch (rid)
 	{
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/GDB.h b/rpcs3/Emu/GDB.h
index 75d272f9d7..0de02ffe25 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/GDB.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/GDB.h
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ class gdb_thread
 	//acknowledge packet, either as accepted or declined
 	void ack(bool accepted);
 	//sends command body cmd to client
-	void send_cmd(const std::string& cmd);
+	void send_cmd(std::string_view cmd);
 	//sends command to client until receives positive acknowledgement
 	//returns false in case some error happened, and command wasn't sent
-	bool send_cmd_ack(const std::string& cmd);
+	bool send_cmd_ack(std::string_view cmd);
 	//appends encoded char c to string str, and returns checksum. encoded byte can occupy 2 bytes
 	static u8 append_encoded_char(char c, std::string& str);
 	//convert u8 to 2 byte hexademical representation
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class gdb_thread
 	//returns register value as hex string by register id (in gdb), in case of wrong id returns empty string
 	static std::string get_reg(ppu_thread* thread, u32 rid);
 	//sets register value to hex string by register id (in gdb), in case of wrong id returns false
-	static bool set_reg(ppu_thread* thread, u32 rid, const std::string& value);
+	static bool set_reg(ppu_thread* thread, u32 rid, std::string_view value);
 	//returns size of register with id rid in bytes, zero if invalid rid is provided
 	static u32 get_reg_size(ppu_thread* thread, u32 rid);
 	//send reason of stop, returns false if sending response failed
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp
index 60e6cb3fca..8f36b9a899 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp
@@ -4849,7 +4849,7 @@ bool Emulator::IsValidSfb(const std::string& path)
 	return false;
 }
 
-void Emulator::SaveSettings(const std::string& settings, const std::string& title_id)
+void Emulator::SaveSettings(std::string_view settings, const std::string& title_id)
 {
 	std::string config_name;
 
@@ -4870,7 +4870,7 @@ void Emulator::SaveSettings(const std::string& settings, const std::string& titl
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		temp.file.write(settings.c_str(), settings.size());
+		temp.file.write(settings.data(), settings.size());
 		if (!temp.commit())
 		{
 			sys_log.error("Could not save config to %s (failed to commit) (error=%s)", config_name, fs::g_tls_error);
@@ -4881,7 +4881,7 @@ void Emulator::SaveSettings(const std::string& settings, const std::string& titl
 	if (config_name == g_cfg.name || title_id == Emu.GetTitleID())
 	{
 		// Update current config
-		if (!g_cfg.from_string({settings.c_str(), settings.size()}, !Emu.IsStopped()))
+		if (!g_cfg.from_string(settings, !Emu.IsStopped()))
 		{
 			sys_log.fatal("Failed to update configuration");
 		}
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/System.h b/rpcs3/Emu/System.h
index 6f89967d79..9a9b00c865 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/System.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/System.h
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ public:
 	static bool IsVsh();
 	static bool IsValidSfb(const std::string& path);
 
-	static void SaveSettings(const std::string& settings, const std::string& title_id);
+	static void SaveSettings(std::string_view settings, const std::string& title_id);
 };
 
 extern Emulator Emu;
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/system_utils.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/system_utils.cpp
index dd3f414938..f95d65fd69 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/system_utils.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/system_utils.cpp
@@ -56,13 +56,13 @@ namespace rpcs3::utils
 		was_silenced = silenced;
 	}
 
-	u32 check_user(const std::string& user)
+	u32 check_user(std::string_view user)
 	{
 		u32 id = 0;
 
 		if (user.size() == 8)
 		{
-			std::from_chars(&user.front(), &user.back() + 1, id);
+			std::from_chars(user.data(), user.data() + user.size(), id);
 		}
 
 		return id;
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ namespace rpcs3::utils
 		const bool check_disc = !disc_dir.empty();
 		const bool check_hdd0 = !hdd0_dir.empty() && !check_disc;
 
-		const auto find_content = [&](const std::string& name, const std::string& extension) -> std::string
+		const auto find_content = [&](std::string_view name, std::string_view extension) -> std::string
 		{
 			// Check localized content first
 			for (bool localized : { true, false })
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/system_utils.hpp b/rpcs3/Emu/system_utils.hpp
index 8745b7d3b0..ae6e8bf3d3 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/system_utils.hpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/system_utils.hpp
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ namespace rpcs3::utils
 
 	void configure_logs(bool force_enable = false);
 
-	u32 check_user(const std::string& user);
+	u32 check_user(std::string_view user);
 
 	bool install_pkg(const std::string& path);
 
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/vfs_config.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/vfs_config.cpp
index bd292f9a25..0958c01b28 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/vfs_config.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/vfs_config.cpp
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ std::string cfg_vfs::get(const cfg::string& _cfg, std::string_view emu_dir) cons
 	return get(_cfg.to_string(), _cfg.def, emu_dir);
 }
 
-std::string cfg_vfs::get(const std::string& _cfg, const std::string& def, std::string_view emu_dir) const
+std::string cfg_vfs::get(std::string_view _cfg, std::string_view def, std::string_view emu_dir) const
 {
-	std::string path = _cfg;
+	std::string path = std::string(_cfg);
 
 	// Fallback
 	if (path.empty())
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/vfs_config.h b/rpcs3/Emu/vfs_config.h
index eaba041344..feedf0d668 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/vfs_config.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/vfs_config.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ struct cfg_vfs : cfg::node
 	cfg::device_info get_device(const cfg::device_entry& _cfg, std::string_view key, std::string_view emu_dir = {}) const;
 
 private:
-	std::string get(const std::string& _cfg, const std::string& def, std::string_view emu_dir) const;
+	std::string get(std::string_view _cfg, std::string_view def, std::string_view emu_dir) const;
 	cfg::device_info get_device_info(const cfg::device_entry& _cfg, std::string_view key, std::string_view emu_dir = {}) const;
 };
 
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/cheat_manager.cpp b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/cheat_manager.cpp
index fa8d0b4d58..90b38f2d49 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/cheat_manager.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/cheat_manager.cpp
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ bool cheat_engine::erase(const std::string& game, const u32 offset)
 	return true;
 }
 
-bool cheat_engine::resolve_script(u32& final_offset, const u32 offset, const std::string& red_script)
+bool cheat_engine::resolve_script(u32& final_offset, const u32 offset, std::string_view red_script)
 {
 	enum operand
 	{
@@ -290,8 +290,11 @@ bool cheat_engine::resolve_script(u32& final_offset, const u32 offset, const std
 				cur_op = operand_sub;
 				index++;
 				break;
-			case ' ': index++; break;
-			default: log_cheat.fatal("invalid character in redirection script"); return false;
+			case ' ': index++;
+				break;
+			default:
+				log_cheat.fatal("invalid character in redirection script");
+				return false;
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/cheat_manager.h b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/cheat_manager.h
index c09f47428f..a02aa8c696 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/cheat_manager.h
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/cheat_manager.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ public:
 	void save() const;
 
 	// Static functions to find/get/set values in ps3 memory
-	static bool resolve_script(u32& final_offset, const u32 offset, const std::string& red_script);
+	static bool resolve_script(u32& final_offset, const u32 offset, std::string_view red_script);
 
 	template <typename T>
 	static std::vector<u32> search(const T value, const std::vector<u32>& to_filter);
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/shortcut_utils.cpp b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/shortcut_utils.cpp
index 2112dfe0e9..9b457a3362 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/shortcut_utils.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/shortcut_utils.cpp
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ namespace gui::utils
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	static std::string make_simple_name(const std::string& name)
+	static std::string make_simple_name(std::string_view name)
 	{
 		const std::string simple_name = QString::fromStdString(vfs::escape(name, true)).simplified().toStdString();
 		return simple_name;
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ namespace gui::utils
 		Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IShellLink> pShellLink;
 		Microsoft::WRL::ComPtr<IPersistFile> pPersistFile;
 
-		const auto cleanup = [&](bool return_value, const std::string& fail_reason) -> bool
+		const auto cleanup = [&](bool return_value, std::string_view fail_reason) -> bool
 		{
 			if (!return_value) sys_log.error("Failed to create shortcut: %s", fail_reason);
 			CoUninitialize();
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ namespace gui::utils
 		return result;
 	}
 
-	static void remove_shortcuts(const std::string& simple_name, [[maybe_unused]] const std::string& serial)
+	static void remove_shortcuts(std::string_view simple_name, [[maybe_unused]] const std::string& serial)
 	{
 		if (simple_name.empty() || simple_name == "." || simple_name == "..")
 		{
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/steam_utils.cpp b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/steam_utils.cpp
index e5aedf9e20..036a7a4876 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/steam_utils.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/steam_utils.cpp
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ namespace gui::utils
 		return !path.empty() && fs::is_dir(path);
 	}
 
-	u32 steam_shortcut::crc32(const std::string& data)
+	u32 steam_shortcut::crc32(std::string_view data)
 	{
 		u32 crc = 0xFFFFFFFF;
 
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ namespace gui::utils
 	}
 #endif
 
-	std::string steam_shortcut::steamid64_to_32(const std::string& steam_id)
+	std::string steam_shortcut::steamid64_to_32(std::string_view steam_id)
 	{
 		u64 id = 0;
 		if (!try_to_uint64(&id, steam_id, 0, umax))
@@ -1009,7 +1009,7 @@ namespace gui::utils
 
 		usz user_count = 0;
 
-		const auto find_user_id = [&content, &user_count](const std::string& key, const std::string& comp) -> std::string
+		const auto find_user_id = [&content, &user_count](const std::string& key, std::string_view comp) -> std::string
 		{
 			user_count = 0;
 			usz pos = 0;
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/steam_utils.h b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/steam_utils.h
index deb7c0dad7..d3e011f19a 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/steam_utils.h
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/steam_utils.h
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ namespace gui::utils
 
 		void update_steam_input_config(const std::string& user_dir);
 
-		static u32 crc32(const std::string& data);
+		static u32 crc32(std::string_view data);
 		static u32 steam_appid(const std::string& exe, const std::string& name);
 
 		static void append(std::string& s, const std::string& val);
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ namespace gui::utils
 		static std::string fix_slashes(const std::string& s);
 		static std::string kv_string(const std::string& key, const std::string& value);
 		static std::string kv_int(const std::string& key, u32 value);
-		static std::string steamid64_to_32(const std::string& steam_id);
+		static std::string steamid64_to_32(std::string_view steam_id);
 		static std::string get_steam_path();
 		static std::string get_last_active_steam_user(const std::string& steam_path);
 
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/user_manager_dialog.cpp b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/user_manager_dialog.cpp
index 8c96992b2a..5da620effe 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/user_manager_dialog.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/user_manager_dialog.cpp
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ void user_manager_dialog::OnUserRemove()
 	}
 }
 
-void user_manager_dialog::GenerateUser(const std::string& user_id, const std::string& username)
+void user_manager_dialog::GenerateUser(const std::string& user_id, std::string_view username)
 {
 	ensure(rpcs3::utils::check_user(user_id) > 0);
 
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/user_manager_dialog.h b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/user_manager_dialog.h
index 75d0ba23e1..fcd5a88fa3 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/user_manager_dialog.h
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/user_manager_dialog.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ protected:
 private:
 	void Init();
 	void UpdateTable(bool mark_only = false);
-	static void GenerateUser(const std::string& user_id, const std::string& username);
+	static void GenerateUser(const std::string& user_id, std::string_view username);
 	static bool ValidateUsername(const QString& text_to_validate);
 
 	void ShowContextMenu(const QPoint &pos);