diff --git a/inc/thorvg.h b/inc/thorvg.h
index 7ad73c14..db5d6c55 100644
--- a/inc/thorvg.h
+++ b/inc/thorvg.h
@@ -1260,10 +1260,10 @@ public:
      *
      * @warning It's the user responsibility to release the @p data memory.
      *
-     * @note If you are unsure about the MIME type, you can provide an empty value like @c "", and thorvg will attempt to figure it out.
+     * @note If you are unsure about the MIME type, you can provide an empty value like @c nullptr, and thorvg will attempt to figure it out.
      * @since 0.5
      */
-    Result load(const char* data, uint32_t size, const char* mimeType, const char* rpath = "", bool copy = false) noexcept;
+    Result load(const char* data, uint32_t size, const char* mimeType, const char* rpath = nullptr, bool copy = false) noexcept;
 
     /**
      * @brief Resizes the picture content to the given width and height.
@@ -1540,7 +1540,7 @@ public:
      * @warning It's the user responsibility to release the @p data memory.
      *
      * @note To unload the font data loaded using this API, pass the proper @p name and @c nullptr as @p data.
-     * @note If you are unsure about the MIME type, you can provide an empty value like @c "", and thorvg will attempt to figure it out.
+     * @note If you are unsure about the MIME type, you can provide an empty value like @c nullptr, and thorvg will attempt to figure it out.
      * @see Text::font(const char* name, float size, const char* style)
      *
      * @note 0.15
diff --git a/src/loaders/external_jpg/tvgJpgLoader.cpp b/src/loaders/external_jpg/tvgJpgLoader.cpp
index 5b7d240b..5af04fbe 100644
--- a/src/loaders/external_jpg/tvgJpgLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/loaders/external_jpg/tvgJpgLoader.cpp
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ JpgLoader::~JpgLoader()
 }
 
 
-bool JpgLoader::open(const string& path)
+bool JpgLoader::open(const char* path)
 {
-    auto jpegFile = fopen(path.c_str(), "rb");
+    auto jpegFile = fopen(path, "rb");
     if (!jpegFile) return false;
 
     auto ret = false;
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ finalize:
 }
 
 
-bool JpgLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const string& rpath, bool copy)
+bool JpgLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const char* rpath, bool copy)
 {
     int width, height, subSample, colorSpace;
     if (tjDecompressHeader3(jpegDecompressor, (unsigned char *) data, size, &width, &height, &subSample, &colorSpace) < 0) return false;
diff --git a/src/loaders/external_jpg/tvgJpgLoader.h b/src/loaders/external_jpg/tvgJpgLoader.h
index d542a1a9..8731244d 100644
--- a/src/loaders/external_jpg/tvgJpgLoader.h
+++ b/src/loaders/external_jpg/tvgJpgLoader.h
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ public:
     JpgLoader();
     ~JpgLoader();
 
-    bool open(const string& path) override;
-    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const string& rpath, bool copy) override;
+    bool open(const char* path) override;
+    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const char* rpath, bool copy) override;
     bool read() override;
 
 private:
diff --git a/src/loaders/external_png/tvgPngLoader.cpp b/src/loaders/external_png/tvgPngLoader.cpp
index edd21299..4ed81bad 100644
--- a/src/loaders/external_png/tvgPngLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/loaders/external_png/tvgPngLoader.cpp
@@ -52,11 +52,11 @@ PngLoader::~PngLoader()
 }
 
 
-bool PngLoader::open(const string& path)
+bool PngLoader::open(const char* path)
 {
     image->opaque = NULL;
 
-    if (!png_image_begin_read_from_file(image, path.c_str())) return false;
+    if (!png_image_begin_read_from_file(image, path)) return false;
 
     w = (float)image->width;
     h = (float)image->height;
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ bool PngLoader::open(const string& path)
 }
 
 
-bool PngLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const string& rpath, bool copy)
+bool PngLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const char* rpath, bool copy)
 {
     image->opaque = NULL;
 
diff --git a/src/loaders/external_png/tvgPngLoader.h b/src/loaders/external_png/tvgPngLoader.h
index 660a7ccf..30d764f5 100644
--- a/src/loaders/external_png/tvgPngLoader.h
+++ b/src/loaders/external_png/tvgPngLoader.h
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ public:
     PngLoader();
     ~PngLoader();
 
-    bool open(const string& path) override;
-    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const string& rpath, bool copy) override;
+    bool open(const char* path) override;
+    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const char* rpath, bool copy) override;
     bool read() override;
 
 private:
diff --git a/src/loaders/external_webp/tvgWebpLoader.cpp b/src/loaders/external_webp/tvgWebpLoader.cpp
index b228b030..411d3015 100644
--- a/src/loaders/external_webp/tvgWebpLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/loaders/external_webp/tvgWebpLoader.cpp
@@ -66,9 +66,9 @@ WebpLoader::~WebpLoader()
 }
 
 
-bool WebpLoader::open(const string& path)
+bool WebpLoader::open(const char* path)
 {
-    auto webpFile = fopen(path.c_str(), "rb");
+    auto webpFile = fopen(path, "rb");
     if (!webpFile) return false;
 
     auto ret = false;
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ finalize:
 }
 
 
-bool WebpLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const string& rpath, bool copy)
+bool WebpLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const char* rpath, bool copy)
 {
     if (copy) {
         this->data = (unsigned char *) malloc(size);
diff --git a/src/loaders/external_webp/tvgWebpLoader.h b/src/loaders/external_webp/tvgWebpLoader.h
index 09da896c..32e739d8 100644
--- a/src/loaders/external_webp/tvgWebpLoader.h
+++ b/src/loaders/external_webp/tvgWebpLoader.h
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ public:
     WebpLoader();
     ~WebpLoader();
 
-    bool open(const string& path) override;
-    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const string& rpath, bool copy) override;
+    bool open(const char* path) override;
+    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const char* rpath, bool copy) override;
     bool read() override;
 
     RenderSurface* bitmap() override;
diff --git a/src/loaders/jpg/tvgJpgLoader.cpp b/src/loaders/jpg/tvgJpgLoader.cpp
index 5253247e..8f4a5a0b 100644
--- a/src/loaders/jpg/tvgJpgLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/loaders/jpg/tvgJpgLoader.cpp
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ JpgLoader::~JpgLoader()
 }
 
 
-bool JpgLoader::open(const string& path)
+bool JpgLoader::open(const char* path)
 {
     int width, height;
-    decoder = jpgdHeader(path.c_str(), &width, &height);
+    decoder = jpgdHeader(path, &width, &height);
     if (!decoder) return false;
 
     w = static_cast<float>(width);
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ bool JpgLoader::open(const string& path)
 }
 
 
-bool JpgLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const string& rpath, bool copy)
+bool JpgLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const char* rpath, bool copy)
 {
     if (copy) {
         this->data = (char *) malloc(size);
diff --git a/src/loaders/jpg/tvgJpgLoader.h b/src/loaders/jpg/tvgJpgLoader.h
index e2a91e12..38322cba 100644
--- a/src/loaders/jpg/tvgJpgLoader.h
+++ b/src/loaders/jpg/tvgJpgLoader.h
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ public:
     JpgLoader();
     ~JpgLoader();
 
-    bool open(const string& path) override;
-    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const string& rpath, bool copy) override;
+    bool open(const char* path) override;
+    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const char* rpath, bool copy) override;
     bool read() override;
     bool close() override;
 
diff --git a/src/loaders/lottie/tvgLottieLoader.cpp b/src/loaders/lottie/tvgLottieLoader.cpp
index 81e72e34..1ccfa35a 100644
--- a/src/loaders/lottie/tvgLottieLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/loaders/lottie/tvgLottieLoader.cpp
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ bool LottieLoader::header()
 }
 
 
-bool LottieLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const std::string& rpath, bool copy)
+bool LottieLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const char* rpath, bool copy)
 {
     if (copy) {
         content = (char*)malloc(size + 1);
@@ -207,16 +207,16 @@ bool LottieLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const std::string& rpat
     this->size = size;
     this->copy = copy;
 
-    if (rpath.empty()) this->dirName = strdup(".");
-    else this->dirName = strdup(rpath.c_str());
+    if (!rpath) this->dirName = strdup(".");
+    else this->dirName = strdup(rpath);
 
     return header();
 }
 
 
-bool LottieLoader::open(const string& path)
+bool LottieLoader::open(const char* path)
 {
-    auto f = fopen(path.c_str(), "r");
+    auto f = fopen(path, "r");
     if (!f) return false;
 
     fseek(f, 0, SEEK_END);
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ bool LottieLoader::open(const string& path)
 
     fclose(f);
 
-    this->dirName = strDirname(path.c_str());
+    this->dirName = strDirname(path);
     this->content = content;
     this->copy = true;
 
diff --git a/src/loaders/lottie/tvgLottieLoader.h b/src/loaders/lottie/tvgLottieLoader.h
index a752316a..4e862a22 100644
--- a/src/loaders/lottie/tvgLottieLoader.h
+++ b/src/loaders/lottie/tvgLottieLoader.h
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ public:
     LottieLoader();
     ~LottieLoader();
 
-    bool open(const string& path) override;
-    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const std::string& rpath, bool copy) override;
+    bool open(const char* path) override;
+    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const char* rpath, bool copy) override;
     bool resize(Paint* paint, float w, float h) override;
     bool read() override;
     Paint* paint() override;
diff --git a/src/loaders/png/tvgPngLoader.cpp b/src/loaders/png/tvgPngLoader.cpp
index 9c87be65..18e34753 100644
--- a/src/loaders/png/tvgPngLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/loaders/png/tvgPngLoader.cpp
@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@ PngLoader::~PngLoader()
 }
 
 
-bool PngLoader::open(const string& path)
+bool PngLoader::open(const char* path)
 {
-    auto pngFile = fopen(path.c_str(), "rb");
+    auto pngFile = fopen(path, "rb");
     if (!pngFile) return false;
 
     auto ret = false;
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ finalize:
 }
 
 
-bool PngLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const string& rpath, bool copy)
+bool PngLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const char* rpath, bool copy)
 {
     unsigned int width, height;
     if (lodepng_inspect(&width, &height, &state, (unsigned char*)(data), size) > 0) return false;
diff --git a/src/loaders/png/tvgPngLoader.h b/src/loaders/png/tvgPngLoader.h
index 3f3a5189..223e7401 100644
--- a/src/loaders/png/tvgPngLoader.h
+++ b/src/loaders/png/tvgPngLoader.h
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ public:
     PngLoader();
     ~PngLoader();
 
-    bool open(const string& path) override;
-    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const string& rpath, bool copy) override;
+    bool open(const char* path) override;
+    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const char* rpath, bool copy) override;
     bool read() override;
 
     RenderSurface* bitmap() override;
diff --git a/src/loaders/svg/tvgSvgLoader.cpp b/src/loaders/svg/tvgSvgLoader.cpp
index 1f0ade12..50326758 100644
--- a/src/loaders/svg/tvgSvgLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/loaders/svg/tvgSvgLoader.cpp
@@ -3869,7 +3869,7 @@ bool SvgLoader::header()
 }
 
 
-bool SvgLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const string& rpath, bool copy)
+bool SvgLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const char* rpath, bool copy)
 {
     clear();
 
@@ -3887,7 +3887,7 @@ bool SvgLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const string& r
 }
 
 
-bool SvgLoader::open(const string& path)
+bool SvgLoader::open(const char* path)
 {
     clear();
 
diff --git a/src/loaders/svg/tvgSvgLoader.h b/src/loaders/svg/tvgSvgLoader.h
index 491b8a92..ebac8a78 100644
--- a/src/loaders/svg/tvgSvgLoader.h
+++ b/src/loaders/svg/tvgSvgLoader.h
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ public:
     SvgLoader();
     ~SvgLoader();
 
-    bool open(const string& path) override;
-    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const string& rpath, bool copy) override;
+    bool open(const char* path) override;
+    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const char* rpath, bool copy) override;
     bool resize(Paint* paint, float w, float h) override;
     bool read() override;
     bool close() override;
diff --git a/src/loaders/ttf/tvgTtfLoader.cpp b/src/loaders/ttf/tvgTtfLoader.cpp
index 1f571a74..61cdcbe1 100644
--- a/src/loaders/ttf/tvgTtfLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/loaders/ttf/tvgTtfLoader.cpp
@@ -85,11 +85,11 @@ static void _unmap(TtfLoader* loader)
 
 #elif defined(__linux__)
 
-static bool _map(TtfLoader* loader, const string& path)
+static bool _map(TtfLoader* loader, const char* path)
 {
     auto& reader = loader->reader;
 
-    auto fd = open(path.c_str(), O_RDONLY);
+    auto fd = open(path, O_RDONLY);
     if (fd < 0) return false;
 
     struct stat info;
@@ -116,11 +116,11 @@ static void _unmap(TtfLoader* loader)
     reader.size = 0;
 }
 #else
-static bool _map(TtfLoader* loader, const string& path)
+static bool _map(TtfLoader* loader, const char* path)
 {
     auto& reader = loader->reader;
 
-    auto f = fopen(path.c_str(), "rb");
+    auto f = fopen(path, "rb");
     if (!f) return false;
 
     fseek(f, 0, SEEK_END);
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ TtfLoader::~TtfLoader()
 }
 
 
-bool TtfLoader::open(const string& path)
+bool TtfLoader::open(const char* path)
 {
     clear();
     if (!_map(this, path)) return false;
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ bool TtfLoader::open(const string& path)
 }
 
 
-bool TtfLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const string& rpath, bool copy)
+bool TtfLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const char* rpath, bool copy)
 {
     reader.size = size;
     nomap = true;
diff --git a/src/loaders/ttf/tvgTtfLoader.h b/src/loaders/ttf/tvgTtfLoader.h
index cdfd76bd..86b40767 100644
--- a/src/loaders/ttf/tvgTtfLoader.h
+++ b/src/loaders/ttf/tvgTtfLoader.h
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ struct TtfLoader : public FontLoader
     ~TtfLoader();
 
     using FontLoader::open;
-    bool open(const string& path) override;
-    bool open(const char *data, uint32_t size, const string& rpath, bool copy) override;
+    bool open(const char* path) override;
+    bool open(const char *data, uint32_t size, const char* rpath, bool copy) override;
     bool transform(Paint* paint, float fontSize, bool italic) override;
     bool request(Shape* shape, char* text) override;
     bool read() override;
diff --git a/src/loaders/webp/tvgWebpLoader.cpp b/src/loaders/webp/tvgWebpLoader.cpp
index e20dac89..2c80c5e9 100644
--- a/src/loaders/webp/tvgWebpLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/loaders/webp/tvgWebpLoader.cpp
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@ WebpLoader::~WebpLoader()
 }
 
 
-bool WebpLoader::open(const string& path)
+bool WebpLoader::open(const char* path)
 {
-    auto f = fopen(path.c_str(), "rb");
+    auto f = fopen(path, "rb");
     if (!f) return false;
 
     fseek(f, 0, SEEK_END);
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ bool WebpLoader::open(const string& path)
 }
 
 
-bool WebpLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const string& rpath, bool copy)
+bool WebpLoader::open(const char* data, uint32_t size, TVG_UNUSED const char* rpath, bool copy)
 {
     if (copy) {
         this->data = (uint8_t*) malloc(size);
diff --git a/src/loaders/webp/tvgWebpLoader.h b/src/loaders/webp/tvgWebpLoader.h
index 07a41aa5..305fa15c 100644
--- a/src/loaders/webp/tvgWebpLoader.h
+++ b/src/loaders/webp/tvgWebpLoader.h
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ public:
     WebpLoader();
     ~WebpLoader();
 
-    bool open(const string& path) override;
-    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const string& rpath, bool copy) override;
+    bool open(const char* path) override;
+    bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const char* rpath, bool copy) override;
     bool read() override;
     bool close() override;
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/tvgLoadModule.h b/src/renderer/tvgLoadModule.h
index 104111c1..aabad04d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/tvgLoadModule.h
+++ b/src/renderer/tvgLoadModule.h
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ struct LoadModule
         if (pathcache) free(hashpath);
     }
 
-    virtual bool open(const string& path) { return false; }
-    virtual bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const string& rpath, bool copy) { return false; }
+    virtual bool open(const char* path) { return false; }
+    virtual bool open(const char* data, uint32_t size, const char* rpath, bool copy) { return false; }
     virtual bool resize(Paint* paint, float w, float h) { return false; }
     virtual void sync() {};  //finish immediately if any async update jobs.
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/tvgSaveModule.h b/src/renderer/tvgSaveModule.h
index e610dca1..6ea7e0b8 100644
--- a/src/renderer/tvgSaveModule.h
+++ b/src/renderer/tvgSaveModule.h
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ class SaveModule
 public:
     virtual ~SaveModule() {}
 
-    virtual bool save(Paint* paint, Paint* bg, const string& path, uint32_t quality) = 0;
-    virtual bool save(Animation* animation, Paint* bg, const string& path, uint32_t quality, uint32_t fps) = 0;
+    virtual bool save(Paint* paint, Paint* bg, const char* filename, uint32_t quality) = 0;
+    virtual bool save(Animation* animation, Paint* bg, const char* filename, uint32_t quality, uint32_t fps) = 0;
     virtual bool close() = 0;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/savers/gif/tvgGifSaver.cpp b/src/savers/gif/tvgGifSaver.cpp
index d32940f7..d939640d 100644
--- a/src/savers/gif/tvgGifSaver.cpp
+++ b/src/savers/gif/tvgGifSaver.cpp
@@ -113,14 +113,14 @@ bool GifSaver::close()
 }
 
 
-bool GifSaver::save(TVG_UNUSED Paint* paint, TVG_UNUSED Paint* bg, TVG_UNUSED const string& path, TVG_UNUSED uint32_t quality)
+bool GifSaver::save(TVG_UNUSED Paint* paint, TVG_UNUSED Paint* bg, TVG_UNUSED const char* filename, TVG_UNUSED uint32_t quality)
 {
     TVGLOG("GIF_SAVER", "Paint is not supported.");
     return false;
 }
 
 
-bool GifSaver::save(Animation* animation, Paint* bg, const string& path, TVG_UNUSED uint32_t quality, uint32_t fps)
+bool GifSaver::save(Animation* animation, Paint* bg, const char* filename, TVG_UNUSED uint32_t quality, uint32_t fps)
 {
     close();
 
@@ -138,10 +138,11 @@ bool GifSaver::save(Animation* animation, Paint* bg, const string& path, TVG_UNU
         return false;
     }
 
-    this->path = strdup(path.c_str());
-    if (!this->path) return false;
+    if (!filename) return false;
+    this->path = strdup(filename);
 
     this->animation = animation;
+
     if (bg) this->bg = bg->duplicate();
     this->fps = static_cast<float>(fps);
 
diff --git a/src/savers/gif/tvgGifSaver.h b/src/savers/gif/tvgGifSaver.h
index 41f0051d..e97deb68 100644
--- a/src/savers/gif/tvgGifSaver.h
+++ b/src/savers/gif/tvgGifSaver.h
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ private:
 public:
     ~GifSaver();
 
-    bool save(Paint* paint, Paint* bg, const string& path, uint32_t quality) override;
-    bool save(Animation* animation, Paint* bg, const string& path, uint32_t quality, uint32_t fps) override;
+    bool save(Paint* paint, Paint* bg, const char* filename, uint32_t quality) override;
+    bool save(Animation* animation, Paint* bg, const char* filename, uint32_t quality, uint32_t fps) override;
     bool close() override;
 };