From ace48464a8f435f43369a3dd791dede7f2b83647 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: "J. Nick Koston" <nick@koston.org>
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2026 16:39:44 -1000
Subject: [PATCH] [addressable_light] Use StringRef to avoid allocation when
 saving effect name (#12759)

---
 .../addressable_light/addressable_light_display.h      | 10 ++++++----
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/esphome/components/addressable_light/addressable_light_display.h b/esphome/components/addressable_light/addressable_light_display.h
index f47389fd05..53f8604b7d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/addressable_light/addressable_light_display.h
+++ b/esphome/components/addressable_light/addressable_light_display.h
@@ -25,11 +25,13 @@ class AddressableLightDisplay : public display::DisplayBuffer {
       if (enabled_ && !enabled) {  // enabled -> disabled
         // - Tell the parent light to refresh, effectively wiping the display. Also
         //   restores the previous effect (if any).
-        light_state_->make_call().set_effect(this->last_effect_).perform();
+        if (this->last_effect_index_.has_value()) {
+          light_state_->make_call().set_effect(*this->last_effect_index_).perform();
+        }
 
       } else if (!enabled_ && enabled) {  // disabled -> enabled
-        // - Save the current effect.
-        this->last_effect_ = light_state_->get_effect_name();
+        // - Save the current effect index.
+        this->last_effect_index_ = light_state_->get_current_effect_index();
         // - Disable any current effect.
         light_state_->make_call().set_effect(0).perform();
       }
@@ -56,7 +58,7 @@ class AddressableLightDisplay : public display::DisplayBuffer {
   int32_t width_;
   int32_t height_;
   std::vector<Color> addressable_light_buffer_;
-  optional<std::string> last_effect_;
+  optional<uint32_t> last_effect_index_;
   optional<std::function<int(int, int)>> pixel_mapper_f_;
 };
 }  // namespace addressable_light