String.Replace() vs. StringBuilder.Replace()

Using RedGate Profiler using the following code

class Program
    {
        static string data = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz";
        static Dictionary<string, string> values;

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Data length: " + data.Length);
            values = new Dictionary<string, string>()
            {
                { "ab", "aa" },
                { "jk", "jj" },
                { "lm", "ll" },
                { "yz", "zz" },
                { "ef", "ff" },
                { "st", "uu" },
                { "op", "pp" },
                { "x", "y" }
            };

            StringReplace(data);
            StringBuilderReplace1(data);
            StringBuilderReplace2(new StringBuilder(data, data.Length * 2));

            Console.ReadKey();
        }

        private static void StringReplace(string data)
        {
            foreach(string k in values.Keys)
            {
                data = data.Replace(k, values[k]);
            }
        }

        private static void StringBuilderReplace1(string data)
        {
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(data, data.Length * 2);
            foreach (string k in values.Keys)
            {
                sb.Replace(k, values[k]);
            }
        }

        private static void StringBuilderReplace2(StringBuilder data)
        {
            foreach (string k in values.Keys)
            {
                data.Replace(k, values[k]);
            }
        }
    }

• String.Replace = 5.843ms
• StringBuilder.Replace #1 = 4.059ms
• Stringbuilder.Replace #2 = 0.461ms

String length = 1456

stringbuilder #1 creates the stringbuilder in the method while #2 does not so the performance difference will end up being the same most likely since you’re just moving that work out of the method. If you start with a stringbuilder instead of a string then #2 might be the way to go instead.

As far as memory, using RedGateMemory profiler, there is nothing to worry about until you get into MANY replace operations in which stringbuilder is going to win overall.