Avoid redundant memory allocations and copies when simpler alternatives exist. This includes: 1. Use in-place comparison functions instead of allocating for string operations 2. Avoid duplicating data that is already owned or will be copied by the receiving function 3. Consider system-specific optimizations to minimize allocations Example - Instead of: ```zig const ext_lower = try std.ascii.allocLowerString(alloc, ext); defer alloc.free(ext_lower); if (std.mem.eql(u8, ext_lower, ".png")) { ``` Prefer: ```zig if (std.ascii.eqlIgnoreCase(ext, ".png")) { ``` This guidance helps reduce memory pressure and improve performance by eliminating unnecessary allocations and copies. When working with data structures that handle their own memory management, verify if they copy inputs before performing manual duplication.