diff --git a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
index 382c4acc16..69c7efea32 100644
--- a/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/api/api_connection.cpp
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ uint16_t APIConnection::try_send_select_state(EntityBase *entity, APIConnection
                                               bool is_single) {
   auto *select = static_cast<select::Select *>(entity);
   SelectStateResponse resp;
-  resp.set_state(StringRef(select->state));
+  resp.set_state(StringRef(select->current_option()));
   resp.missing_state = !select->has_state();
   return fill_and_encode_entity_state(select, resp, SelectStateResponse::MESSAGE_TYPE, conn, remaining_size, is_single);
 }
diff --git a/esphome/components/logger/select/logger_level_select.cpp b/esphome/components/logger/select/logger_level_select.cpp
index 6d60a3ae47..5537df570c 100644
--- a/esphome/components/logger/select/logger_level_select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/logger/select/logger_level_select.cpp
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@
 namespace esphome::logger {
 
 void LoggerLevelSelect::publish_state(int level) {
-  const auto &option = this->at(level_to_index(level));
-  if (!option)
+  auto index = level_to_index(level);
+  if (!this->has_index(index))
     return;
-  Select::publish_state(option.value());
+  Select::publish_state(index);
 }
 
 void LoggerLevelSelect::setup() {
diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select.cpp b/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
index 5e30be3c13..b52504ea28 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
@@ -7,24 +7,39 @@ namespace select {
 
 static const char *const TAG = "select";
 
-void Select::publish_state(const std::string &state) {
+void Select::publish_state(const std::string &state) { this->publish_state(state.c_str()); }
+
+void Select::publish_state(const char *state) {
   auto index = this->index_of(state);
-  const auto *name = this->get_name().c_str();
   if (index.has_value()) {
-    this->set_has_state(true);
-    this->state = state;
-    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s': Sending state %s (index %zu)", name, state.c_str(), index.value());
-    this->state_callback_.call(state, index.value());
+    this->publish_state(index.value());
   } else {
-    ESP_LOGE(TAG, "'%s': invalid state for publish_state(): %s", name, state.c_str());
+    ESP_LOGE(TAG, "'%s': invalid state for publish_state(): %s", this->get_name().c_str(), state);
   }
 }
 
+void Select::publish_state(size_t index) {
+  if (!this->has_index(index)) {
+    ESP_LOGE(TAG, "'%s': invalid index for publish_state(): %zu", this->get_name().c_str(), index);
+    return;
+  }
+  const char *option = this->option_at(index);
+  this->set_has_state(true);
+  this->active_index_ = index;
+  ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s': Sending state %s (index %zu)", this->get_name().c_str(), option, index);
+  // Callback signature requires std::string, create temporary for compatibility
+  this->state_callback_.call(std::string(option), index);
+}
+
+const char *Select::current_option() const { return this->option_at(this->active_index_); }
+
 void Select::add_on_state_callback(std::function<void(std::string, size_t)> &&callback) {
   this->state_callback_.add(std::move(callback));
 }
 
-bool Select::has_option(const std::string &option) const { return this->index_of(option).has_value(); }
+bool Select::has_option(const std::string &option) const { return this->index_of(option.c_str()).has_value(); }
+
+bool Select::has_option(const char *option) const { return this->index_of(option).has_value(); }
 
 bool Select::has_index(size_t index) const { return index < this->size(); }
 
@@ -33,10 +48,12 @@ size_t Select::size() const {
   return options.size();
 }
 
-optional<size_t> Select::index_of(const std::string &option) const {
+optional<size_t> Select::index_of(const std::string &option) const { return this->index_of(option.c_str()); }
+
+optional<size_t> Select::index_of(const char *option) const {
   const auto &options = traits.get_options();
   for (size_t i = 0; i < options.size(); i++) {
-    if (strcmp(options[i], option.c_str()) == 0) {
+    if (strcmp(options[i], option) == 0) {
       return i;
     }
   }
@@ -45,7 +62,7 @@ optional<size_t> Select::index_of(const std::string &option) const {
 
 optional<size_t> Select::active_index() const {
   if (this->has_state()) {
-    return this->index_of(this->state);
+    return this->active_index_;
   } else {
     return {};
   }
diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select.h b/esphome/components/select/select.h
index eabb39898b..81c8f68362 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select.h
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select.h
@@ -30,16 +30,21 @@ namespace select {
  */
 class Select : public EntityBase {
  public:
-  std::string state;
   SelectTraits traits;
 
   void publish_state(const std::string &state);
+  void publish_state(const char *state);
+  void publish_state(size_t index);
+
+  /// Return the currently selected option (as const char* from flash).
+  const char *current_option() const;
 
   /// Instantiate a SelectCall object to modify this select component's state.
   SelectCall make_call() { return SelectCall(this); }
 
   /// Return whether this select component contains the provided option.
   bool has_option(const std::string &option) const;
+  bool has_option(const char *option) const;
 
   /// Return whether this select component contains the provided index offset.
   bool has_index(size_t index) const;
@@ -49,6 +54,7 @@ class Select : public EntityBase {
 
   /// Find the (optional) index offset of the provided option value.
   optional<size_t> index_of(const std::string &option) const;
+  optional<size_t> index_of(const char *option) const;
 
   /// Return the (optional) index offset of the currently active option.
   optional<size_t> active_index() const;
@@ -64,6 +70,18 @@ class Select : public EntityBase {
  protected:
   friend class SelectCall;
 
+  size_t active_index_{0};
+
+  /** Set the value of the select by index, this is an optional virtual method.
+   *
+   * This method is called by the SelectCall when the index is already known.
+   * Default implementation converts to string and calls control().
+   * Override this to work directly with indices and avoid string conversions.
+   *
+   * @param index The index as validated by the SelectCall.
+   */
+  virtual void control(size_t index) { this->control(this->option_at(index)); }
+
   /** Set the value of the select, this is a virtual method that each select integration must implement.
    *
    * This method is called by the SelectCall.
diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select_call.cpp b/esphome/components/select/select_call.cpp
index dd398b4052..144090e21f 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select_call.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select_call.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ SelectCall &SelectCall::set_option(const std::string &option) {
   return with_operation(SELECT_OP_SET).with_option(option);
 }
 
+SelectCall &SelectCall::set_option(const char *option) { return with_operation(SELECT_OP_SET).with_option(option); }
+
 SelectCall &SelectCall::set_index(size_t index) { return with_operation(SELECT_OP_SET_INDEX).with_index(index); }
 
 SelectCall &SelectCall::select_next(bool cycle) { return with_operation(SELECT_OP_NEXT).with_cycle(cycle); }
@@ -31,8 +33,11 @@ SelectCall &SelectCall::with_cycle(bool cycle) {
   return *this;
 }
 
-SelectCall &SelectCall::with_option(const std::string &option) {
-  this->option_ = option;
+SelectCall &SelectCall::with_option(const std::string &option) { return this->with_option(option.c_str()); }
+
+SelectCall &SelectCall::with_option(const char *option) {
+  // Find the option index - this validates the option exists
+  this->index_ = this->parent_->index_of(option);
   return *this;
 }
 
@@ -56,64 +61,52 @@ void SelectCall::perform() {
     return;
   }
 
-  std::string target_value;
+  size_t target_index;
 
-  if (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_SET) {
-    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s' - Setting", name);
-    if (!this->option_.has_value()) {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "'%s' - No option value set for SelectCall", name);
-      return;
+  if (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_SET || this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_SET_INDEX) {
+    if (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_SET) {
+      ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s' - Setting", name);
     }
-    target_value = this->option_.value();
-  } else if (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_SET_INDEX) {
     if (!this->index_.has_value()) {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "'%s' - No index value set for SelectCall", name);
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "'%s' - No option value set for SelectCall", name);
       return;
     }
     if (this->index_.value() >= options.size()) {
       ESP_LOGW(TAG, "'%s' - Index value %zu out of bounds", name, this->index_.value());
       return;
     }
-    target_value = options[this->index_.value()];
+    target_index = this->index_.value();
   } else if (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_FIRST) {
-    target_value = options.front();
+    target_index = 0;
   } else if (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_LAST) {
-    target_value = options.back();
+    target_index = options.size() - 1;
   } else if (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_NEXT || this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_PREVIOUS) {
     auto cycle = this->cycle_;
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s' - Selecting %s, with%s cycling", name, this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_NEXT ? "next" : "previous",
              cycle ? "" : "out");
     if (!parent->has_state()) {
-      target_value = this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_NEXT ? options.front() : options.back();
+      target_index = this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_NEXT ? 0 : options.size() - 1;
     } else {
-      auto index = parent->index_of(parent->state);
-      if (index.has_value()) {
-        auto size = options.size();
-        if (cycle) {
-          auto use_index = (size + index.value() + (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_NEXT ? +1 : -1)) % size;
-          target_value = options[use_index];
-        } else {
-          if (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_PREVIOUS && index.value() > 0) {
-            target_value = options[index.value() - 1];
-          } else if (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_NEXT && index.value() < options.size() - 1) {
-            target_value = options[index.value() + 1];
-          } else {
-            return;
-          }
-        }
+      // Use cached active_index_ instead of index_of() lookup
+      auto index = parent->active_index_;
+      auto size = options.size();
+      if (cycle) {
+        target_index = (size + index + (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_NEXT ? +1 : -1)) % size;
       } else {
-        target_value = this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_NEXT ? options.front() : options.back();
+        if (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_PREVIOUS && index > 0) {
+          target_index = index - 1;
+        } else if (this->operation_ == SELECT_OP_NEXT && index < options.size() - 1) {
+          target_index = index + 1;
+        } else {
+          return;
+        }
       }
     }
   }
 
-  if (!parent->has_option(target_value)) {
-    ESP_LOGW(TAG, "'%s' - Option %s is not a valid option", name, target_value.c_str());
-    return;
-  }
-
-  ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s' - Set selected option to: %s", name, target_value.c_str());
-  parent->control(target_value);
+  // All operations use indices, call control() by index to avoid string conversion
+  ESP_LOGD(TAG, "'%s' - Set selected option to: %s", name, options[target_index]);
+  parent->control(target_index);
 }
 
 }  // namespace select
diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select_call.h b/esphome/components/select/select_call.h
index efc9a982ec..a0c63a0e39 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select_call.h
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select_call.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ class SelectCall {
   void perform();
 
   SelectCall &set_option(const std::string &option);
+  SelectCall &set_option(const char *option);
   SelectCall &set_index(size_t index);
 
   SelectCall &select_next(bool cycle);
@@ -33,11 +34,11 @@ class SelectCall {
   SelectCall &with_operation(SelectOperation operation);
   SelectCall &with_cycle(bool cycle);
   SelectCall &with_option(const std::string &option);
+  SelectCall &with_option(const char *option);
   SelectCall &with_index(size_t index);
 
  protected:
   Select *const parent_;
-  optional<std::string> option_;
   optional<size_t> index_;
   SelectOperation operation_{SELECT_OP_NONE};
   bool cycle_;
diff --git a/esphome/components/template/select/template_select.cpp b/esphome/components/template/select/template_select.cpp
index 3ea34c3c7c..03ef1d482b 100644
--- a/esphome/components/template/select/template_select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/template/select/template_select.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ void TemplateSelect::setup() {
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "State from initial: %s", this->option_at(index));
   }
 
-  this->publish_state(this->at(index).value());
+  this->publish_state(index);
 }
 
 void TemplateSelect::update() {
diff --git a/esphome/components/tuya/select/tuya_select.cpp b/esphome/components/tuya/select/tuya_select.cpp
index 7c1cd09d06..07e3ce44ee 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tuya/select/tuya_select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/tuya/select/tuya_select.cpp
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ void TuyaSelect::setup() {
       return;
     }
     size_t mapping_idx = std::distance(mappings.cbegin(), it);
-    auto value = this->at(mapping_idx);
-    this->publish_state(value.value());
+    this->publish_state(mapping_idx);
   });
 }