diff --git a/src/console_gui.cpp b/src/console_gui.cpp
index 597f65a939..15d66d6264 100644
--- a/src/console_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/console_gui.cpp
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ static inline void IConsoleResetHistoryPos()
 }
 
 
-static const char *IConsoleHistoryAdd(const char *cmd);
+static std::optional<std::string_view> IConsoleHistoryAdd(std::string_view cmd);
 static void IConsoleHistoryNavigate(int direction);
 
 static constexpr NWidgetPart _nested_console_window_widgets[] = {
@@ -276,10 +276,10 @@ struct IConsoleWindow : Window
 				 * aligned anyway. So enforce this in all cases by adding a left-to-right marker,
 				 * otherwise it will be drawn at the wrong side with right-to-left texts. */
 				IConsolePrint(CC_COMMAND, LRM "] {}", _iconsole_cmdline.GetText());
-				const char *cmd = IConsoleHistoryAdd(_iconsole_cmdline.GetText());
+				auto cmd = IConsoleHistoryAdd(_iconsole_cmdline.GetText());
 				IConsoleClearCommand();
 
-				if (cmd != nullptr) IConsoleCmdExec(cmd);
+				if (cmd.has_value()) IConsoleCmdExec(*cmd);
 				break;
 			}
 
@@ -448,13 +448,13 @@ void IConsoleClose()
  * @param cmd Text to be entered into the 'history'
  * @return the command to execute
  */
-static const char *IConsoleHistoryAdd(const char *cmd)
+static std::optional<std::string_view> IConsoleHistoryAdd(std::string_view cmd)
 {
 	/* Strip all spaces at the begin */
-	while (IsWhitespace(*cmd)) cmd++;
+	while (IsWhitespace(cmd[0])) cmd.remove_prefix(1);
 
 	/* Do not put empty command in history */
-	if (StrEmpty(cmd)) return nullptr;
+	if (cmd.empty()) return std::nullopt;
 
 	/* Do not put in history if command is same as previous */
 	if (_iconsole_history.empty() || _iconsole_history.front() != cmd) {
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ static const char *IConsoleHistoryAdd(const char *cmd)
 
 	/* Reset the history position */
 	IConsoleResetHistoryPos();
-	return _iconsole_history.front().c_str();
+	return _iconsole_history.front();
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/misc_gui.cpp b/src/misc_gui.cpp
index 52cf424881..249d43f1c1 100644
--- a/src/misc_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/misc_gui.cpp
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ void QueryString::DrawEditBox(const Window *w, WidgetID wid) const
 
 	DrawFrameRect(cr, wi->colour, wi->IsLowered() ? FrameFlag::Lowered : FrameFlags{});
 	DrawSpriteIgnorePadding(rtl ? SPR_IMG_DELETE_RIGHT : SPR_IMG_DELETE_LEFT, PAL_NONE, cr, SA_CENTER);
-	if (StrEmpty(this->text.GetText())) GfxFillRect(cr.Shrink(WidgetDimensions::scaled.bevel), GetColourGradient(wi->colour, SHADE_DARKER), FILLRECT_CHECKER);
+	if (this->text.GetText().empty()) GfxFillRect(cr.Shrink(WidgetDimensions::scaled.bevel), GetColourGradient(wi->colour, SHADE_DARKER), FILLRECT_CHECKER);
 
 	DrawFrameRect(fr, wi->colour, {FrameFlag::Lowered, FrameFlag::Darkened});
 	GfxFillRect(fr.Shrink(WidgetDimensions::scaled.bevel), PC_BLACK);
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ void QueryString::ClickEditBox(Window *w, Point pt, WidgetID wid, int click_coun
 	Rect cr = wi->GetCurrentRect().WithWidth(clearbtn_width, !rtl);
 
 	if (IsInsideMM(pt.x, cr.left, cr.right)) {
-		if (!StrEmpty(this->text.GetText())) {
+		if (!this->text.GetText().empty()) {
 			this->text.DeleteAll();
 			w->HandleButtonClick(wid);
 			w->OnEditboxChanged(wid);
@@ -942,7 +942,7 @@ struct QueryStringWindow : public Window
 		if (!this->editbox.orig.has_value() || this->editbox.text.GetText() != this->editbox.orig) {
 			assert(this->parent != nullptr);
 
-			this->parent->OnQueryTextFinished(this->editbox.text.GetText());
+			this->parent->OnQueryTextFinished(std::string{this->editbox.text.GetText()});
 			this->editbox.handled = true;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/network/network_content_gui.cpp b/src/network/network_content_gui.cpp
index 52724a4db3..522efedf7a 100644
--- a/src/network/network_content_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/network/network_content_gui.cpp
@@ -370,15 +370,15 @@ class NetworkContentListWindow : public Window, ContentCallback {
 			url += "do=searchtext&q=";
 
 			/* Escape search term */
-			for (const char *search = this->filter_editbox.text.GetText(); *search != '\0'; search++) {
+			for (char search : this->filter_editbox.text.GetText()) {
 				/* Remove quotes */
-				if (*search == '\'' || *search == '"') continue;
+				if (search == '\'' || search == '"') continue;
 
 				/* Escape special chars, such as &%,= */
-				if (*search < 0x30) {
-					format_append(url, "%{:02X}", *search);
+				if (static_cast<unsigned char>(search) < 0x30) {
+					format_append(url, "%{:02X}", search);
 				} else {
-					url.push_back(*search);
+					url.push_back(search);
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/network/network_gui.cpp b/src/network/network_gui.cpp
index f24791d449..fdee4d1475 100644
--- a/src/network/network_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/network/network_gui.cpp
@@ -1102,7 +1102,7 @@ struct NetworkStartServerWindow : public Window {
 
 	bool CheckServerName()
 	{
-		std::string str = this->name_editbox.text.GetText();
+		std::string str{this->name_editbox.text.GetText()};
 		if (!NetworkValidateServerName(str)) return false;
 
 		SetSettingValue(GetSettingFromName("network.server_name")->AsStringSetting(), std::move(str));
diff --git a/src/newgrf_gui.cpp b/src/newgrf_gui.cpp
index 2005d6de38..00dbb9d3f4 100644
--- a/src/newgrf_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/newgrf_gui.cpp
@@ -2112,7 +2112,10 @@ struct SavePresetWindow : public Window {
 
 			case WID_SVP_SAVE: {
 				Window *w = FindWindowById(WC_GAME_OPTIONS, WN_GAME_OPTIONS_NEWGRF_STATE);
-				if (w != nullptr && !StrEmpty(this->presetname_editbox.text.GetText())) w->OnQueryTextFinished(this->presetname_editbox.text.GetText());
+				if (w != nullptr) {
+					auto text = this->presetname_editbox.text.GetText();
+					if (!text.empty()) w->OnQueryTextFinished(std::string{text});
+				}
 				this->Close();
 				break;
 			}
diff --git a/src/os/macosx/macos.h b/src/os/macosx/macos.h
index 33f016a34b..2bda5509e1 100644
--- a/src/os/macosx/macos.h
+++ b/src/os/macosx/macos.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #define MACOS_H
 
 /** Helper function displaying a message the best possible way. */
-void ShowMacDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *button_label);
+void ShowMacDialog(std::string_view title, std::string_view message, std::string_view button_label);
 
 void GetMacOSVersion(int *return_major, int *return_minor, int *return_bugfix);
 
diff --git a/src/os/macosx/macos.mm b/src/os/macosx/macos.mm
index 1b1beacab4..f1e41a3cf8 100644
--- a/src/os/macosx/macos.mm
+++ b/src/os/macosx/macos.mm
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ void GetMacOSVersion(int *return_major, int *return_minor, int *return_bugfix)
 
 #ifdef WITH_COCOA
 
-extern void CocoaDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLabel);
+extern void CocoaDialog(std::string_view title, std::string_view message, std::string_view buttonLabel);
 
 /**
  * Show the system dialogue message (Cocoa on MacOSX).
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ extern void CocoaDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *butt
  * @param message Message text.
  * @param buttonLabel Button text.
  */
-void ShowMacDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLabel)
+void ShowMacDialog(std::string_view title, std::string_view message, std::string_view buttonLabel)
 {
 	CocoaDialog(title, message, buttonLabel);
 }
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ void ShowMacDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLab
  * @param message Message text.
  * @param buttonLabel Button text.
  */
-void ShowMacDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLabel)
+void ShowMacDialog(std::string_view title, std::string_view message, std::string_view buttonLabel)
 {
 	fmt::print(stderr, "{}: {}\n", title, message);
 }
diff --git a/src/signs_gui.cpp b/src/signs_gui.cpp
index bcccad2cd4..692211b028 100644
--- a/src/signs_gui.cpp
+++ b/src/signs_gui.cpp
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ struct SignListWindow : Window, SignList {
 	 * new string is zero-length or not the clear button is made
 	 * disabled/enabled. The sign list is updated according to the new filter.
 	 */
-	void SetFilterString(const char *new_filter_string)
+	void SetFilterString(std::string_view new_filter_string)
 	{
 		/* check if there is a new filter string */
 		this->string_filter.SetFilterTerm(new_filter_string);
@@ -400,10 +400,10 @@ Window *ShowSignList()
  * @param text  the new name.
  * @return true if the window will already be removed after returning.
  */
-static bool RenameSign(SignID index, const char *text)
+static bool RenameSign(SignID index, std::string_view text)
 {
-	bool remove = StrEmpty(text);
-	Command<CMD_RENAME_SIGN>::Post(StrEmpty(text) ? STR_ERROR_CAN_T_DELETE_SIGN : STR_ERROR_CAN_T_CHANGE_SIGN_NAME, index, text);
+	bool remove = text.empty();
+	Command<CMD_RENAME_SIGN>::Post(remove ? STR_ERROR_CAN_T_DELETE_SIGN : STR_ERROR_CAN_T_CHANGE_SIGN_NAME, index, std::string{text});
 	return remove;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/textbuf.cpp b/src/textbuf.cpp
index 074a73d496..fb59136582 100644
--- a/src/textbuf.cpp
+++ b/src/textbuf.cpp
@@ -281,9 +281,9 @@ void Textbuf::DiscardMarkedText(bool update)
  * Get the current text.
  * @return Current text.
  */
-const char *Textbuf::GetText() const
+std::string_view Textbuf::GetText() const
 {
-	return this->buf.c_str();
+	return this->buf;
 }
 
 /** Update the character iter after the text has changed. */
diff --git a/src/textbuf_type.h b/src/textbuf_type.h
index f01c706ae4..01c6d46d8e 100644
--- a/src/textbuf_type.h
+++ b/src/textbuf_type.h
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ struct Textbuf {
 
 	void DiscardMarkedText(bool update = true);
 
-	const char *GetText() const;
+	std::string_view GetText() const;
 
 private:
 	std::string buf; ///< buffer in which text is saved
diff --git a/src/video/cocoa/cocoa_wnd.mm b/src/video/cocoa/cocoa_wnd.mm
index e746ee1e16..067c56d152 100644
--- a/src/video/cocoa/cocoa_wnd.mm
+++ b/src/video/cocoa/cocoa_wnd.mm
@@ -102,10 +102,10 @@ static OTTDMain *_ottd_main;
  * @param to End of the range.
  * @return Number of UTF-16 code points in the range.
  */
-static NSUInteger CountUtf16Units(const char *from, const char *to)
+static NSUInteger CountUtf16Units(std::string_view str)
 {
 	NSUInteger i = 0;
-	for (char32_t c : Utf8View(std::string_view(from, to))) {
+	for (char32_t c : Utf8View(str)) {
 		i += c < 0x10000 ? 1 : 2; // Watch for surrogate pairs.
 	}
 	return i;
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ static NSUInteger CountUtf16Units(const char *from, const char *to)
  * @param count Number of UTF-16 code points to advance the string by.
  * @return Advanced string pointer.
  */
-static const char *Utf8AdvanceByUtf16Units(const char *str, NSUInteger count)
+static const char *Utf8AdvanceByUtf16Units(std::string_view str, NSUInteger count)
 {
 	Utf8View view(str);
 	auto it = view.begin();
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ static const char *Utf8AdvanceByUtf16Units(const char *str, NSUInteger count)
 	for (NSUInteger i = 0; it != end && i < count; ++it) {
 		i += *it < 0x10000 ? 1 : 2; // Watch for surrogate pairs.
 	}
-	return str + it.GetByteOffset();
+	return str.data() + it.GetByteOffset();
 }
 
 /**
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ void CocoaExitApplication()
  *
  * @note This is needed since sometimes assert is called before the videodriver is initialized .
  */
-void CocoaDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLabel)
+void CocoaDialog(std::string_view title, std::string_view message, std::string_view buttonLabel)
 {
 	_cocoa_video_dialog = true;
 
@@ -413,9 +413,9 @@ void CocoaDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLabel
 #else
 		[ alert setAlertStyle: NSCriticalAlertStyle ];
 #endif
-		[ alert setMessageText:[ NSString stringWithUTF8String:title ] ];
-		[ alert setInformativeText:[ NSString stringWithUTF8String:message ] ];
-		[ alert addButtonWithTitle: [ NSString stringWithUTF8String:buttonLabel ] ];
+		[ alert setMessageText:[ [ NSString alloc ] initWithBytes:title.data() length:title.size() encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding ] ];
+		[ alert setInformativeText:[ [ NSString alloc ] initWithBytes:message.data() length:message.size() encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding ] ];
+		[ alert addButtonWithTitle: [ [ NSString alloc ] initWithBytes:buttonLabel.data() length:buttonLabel.size() encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding ] ];
 		[ alert runModal ];
 		[ alert release ];
 	}
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ void CocoaDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLabel
 		[ self setContentMinSize:NSMakeSize(64.0f, 64.0f) ];
 
 		std::string caption = VideoDriver::GetCaption();
-		NSString *nsscaption = [ [ NSString alloc ] initWithUTF8String:caption.c_str() ];
+		NSString *nsscaption = [ [ NSString alloc ] initWithBytes:caption.data() length:caption.size() encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding ];
 		[ self setTitle:nsscaption ];
 		[ self setMiniwindowTitle:nsscaption ];
 		[ nsscaption release ];
@@ -1001,8 +1001,8 @@ void CocoaDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLabel
 	if (!EditBoxInGlobalFocus()) return NSMakeRange(NSNotFound, 0);
 
 	const Textbuf *text_buf = _focused_window->GetFocusedTextbuf();
-	const char *text = text_buf->GetText();
-	NSUInteger start = CountUtf16Units(text, text + text_buf->caretpos);
+	std::string_view text = text_buf->GetText();
+	NSUInteger start = CountUtf16Units(text.substr(0, text_buf->caretpos));
 	return NSMakeRange(start, 0);
 }
 
@@ -1013,10 +1013,9 @@ void CocoaDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLabel
 
 	const Textbuf *text_buf = _focused_window->GetFocusedTextbuf();
 	if (text_buf->markend != 0) {
-		const char *text = text_buf->GetText();
-		const char *mark = text + text_buf->markpos;
-		NSUInteger start = CountUtf16Units(text, mark);
-		NSUInteger len = CountUtf16Units(mark, text + text_buf->markend);
+		std::string_view text = text_buf->GetText();
+		NSUInteger start = CountUtf16Units(text.substr(0, text_buf->markpos));
+		NSUInteger len = CountUtf16Units(text.substr(text_buf->markpos, text_buf->markend - text_buf->markpos));
 
 		return NSMakeRange(start, len);
 	}
@@ -1037,7 +1036,8 @@ void CocoaDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLabel
 {
 	if (!EditBoxInGlobalFocus()) return nil;
 
-	NSString *s = [ NSString stringWithUTF8String:_focused_window->GetFocusedTextbuf()->GetText() ];
+	auto text = _focused_window->GetFocusedTextbuf()->GetText();
+	NSString *s = [ [ NSString alloc] initWithBytes:text.data() length:text.size() encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding ];
 	NSRange valid_range = NSIntersectionRange(NSMakeRange(0, [ s length ]), theRange);
 
 	if (actualRange != nullptr) *actualRange = valid_range;
@@ -1057,7 +1057,8 @@ void CocoaDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLabel
 {
 	if (!EditBoxInGlobalFocus()) return [ [ [ NSAttributedString alloc ] initWithString:@"" ] autorelease ];
 
-	return [ [ [ NSAttributedString alloc ] initWithString:[ NSString stringWithUTF8String:_focused_window->GetFocusedTextbuf()->GetText() ] ] autorelease ];
+	auto text = _focused_window->GetFocusedTextbuf()->GetText();
+	return [ [ [ NSAttributedString alloc ] initWithString:[ [ NSString alloc ] initWithBytes:text.data() length:text.size() encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding ] ] autorelease ];
 }
 
 /** Get the character that is rendered at the given point. */
@@ -1073,7 +1074,7 @@ void CocoaDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLabel
 	if (index == -1) return NSNotFound;
 
 	auto text = _focused_window->GetFocusedTextbuf()->GetText();
-	return CountUtf16Units(text, text + index);
+	return CountUtf16Units(text.substr(0, index));
 }
 
 /** Get the bounding rect for the given range. */
@@ -1081,7 +1082,7 @@ void CocoaDialog(const char *title, const char *message, const char *buttonLabel
 {
 	if (!EditBoxInGlobalFocus()) return NSMakeRect(0, 0, 0, 0);
 
-	const char *focused_text = _focused_window->GetFocusedTextbuf()->GetText();
+	std::string_view focused_text = _focused_window->GetFocusedTextbuf()->GetText();
 	/* Convert range to UTF-8 string pointers. */
 	const char *start = Utf8AdvanceByUtf16Units(focused_text, aRange.location);
 	const char *end = aRange.length != 0 ? Utf8AdvanceByUtf16Units(focused_text, aRange.location + aRange.length) : start;
diff --git a/src/window.cpp b/src/window.cpp
index 0465b3c0f3..0e4f78348a 100644
--- a/src/window.cpp
+++ b/src/window.cpp
@@ -2540,7 +2540,7 @@ EventState Window::HandleEditBoxKey(WidgetID wid, char32_t key, uint16_t keycode
 			break;
 
 		case QueryString::ACTION_CLEAR:
-			if (StrEmpty(query->text.GetText())) {
+			if (query->text.GetText().empty()) {
 				/* If already empty, unfocus instead */
 				this->UnfocusFocusedWidget();
 			} else {