diff --git a/tiledb/api/c_api/array/array_api_internal.h b/tiledb/api/c_api/array/array_api_internal.h
index 8b66a5b3dc0..a747ed4017d 100644
--- a/tiledb/api/c_api/array/array_api_internal.h
+++ b/tiledb/api/c_api/array/array_api_internal.h
@@ -98,15 +98,6 @@ struct tiledb_array_handle_t
     array_->delete_array(uri);
   }
 
-  void delete_fragments(
-      tiledb::sm::ContextResources& resources,
-      const tiledb::sm::URI& uri,
-      uint64_t ts_start,
-      uint64_t ts_end,
-      std::optional<tiledb::sm::ArrayDirectory> array_dir = std::nullopt) {
-    array_->delete_fragments(resources, uri, ts_start, ts_end, array_dir);
-  }
-
   void delete_fragments(
       const tiledb::sm::URI& uri,
       uint64_t timestamp_start,
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/array/array.cc b/tiledb/sm/array/array.cc
index 2c35059ffa1..acc5c5f2ce8 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/array/array.cc
+++ b/tiledb/sm/array/array.cc
@@ -658,42 +658,33 @@ Status Array::close() {
 }
 
 void Array::delete_fragments(
-    ContextResources& resources,
-    const URI& uri,
-    uint64_t timestamp_start,
-    uint64_t timestamp_end,
-    std::optional<ArrayDirectory> array_dir) {
-  // Get the fragment URIs to be deleted
-  if (array_dir == std::nullopt) {
-    array_dir = ArrayDirectory(resources, uri, timestamp_start, timestamp_end);
-  }
-  auto filtered_fragment_uris = array_dir->filtered_fragment_uris(true);
+    ContextResources& resources, ArrayDirectory& array_dir) {
+  auto filtered_fragment_uris = array_dir.filtered_fragment_uris(true);
   const auto& fragment_uris = filtered_fragment_uris.fragment_uris();
 
   // Retrieve commit uris to delete and ignore
   std::vector<URI> commit_uris_to_delete;
   std::vector<URI> commit_uris_to_ignore;
   for (auto& fragment : fragment_uris) {
-    auto commit_uri = array_dir->get_commit_uri(fragment.uri_);
+    auto commit_uri = array_dir.get_commit_uri(fragment.uri_);
     commit_uris_to_delete.emplace_back(commit_uri);
-    if (array_dir->consolidated_commit_uris_set().count(commit_uri.c_str()) !=
-        0) {
+    if (array_dir.consolidated_commit_uris_set().count(commit_uri) != 0) {
       commit_uris_to_ignore.emplace_back(commit_uri);
     }
   }
 
   // Write ignore file
   if (commit_uris_to_ignore.size() != 0) {
-    array_dir->write_commit_ignore_file(commit_uris_to_ignore);
+    array_dir.write_commit_ignore_file(commit_uris_to_ignore);
   }
 
   // Delete fragments and commits
-  auto vfs = &(resources.vfs());
+  auto& vfs = resources.vfs();
   throw_if_not_ok(parallel_for(
       &resources.compute_tp(), 0, fragment_uris.size(), [&](size_t i) {
-        vfs->remove_dir(fragment_uris[i].uri_);
-        if (vfs->is_file(commit_uris_to_delete[i])) {
-          vfs->remove_file(commit_uris_to_delete[i]);
+        vfs.remove_dir(fragment_uris[i].uri_);
+        if (vfs.is_file(commit_uris_to_delete[i])) {
+          vfs.remove_file(commit_uris_to_delete[i]);
         }
         return Status::Ok();
       }));
@@ -714,7 +705,9 @@ void Array::delete_fragments(
     rest_client->post_delete_fragments_to_rest(
         uri, this, timestamp_start, timestamp_end);
   } else {
-    Array::delete_fragments(resources_, uri, timestamp_start, timestamp_end);
+    auto array_dir =
+        ArrayDirectory(resources_, uri, timestamp_start, timestamp_end);
+    Array::delete_fragments(resources_, array_dir);
   }
 }
 
@@ -724,8 +717,7 @@ void Array::delete_array(ContextResources& resources, const URI& uri) {
       ArrayDirectory(resources, uri, 0, std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max());
 
   // Delete fragments and commits
-  Array::delete_fragments(
-      resources, uri, 0, std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max(), array_dir);
+  Array::delete_fragments(resources, array_dir);
 
   // Delete array metadata, fragment metadata and array schema files
   // Note: metadata files may not be present, try to delete anyway
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/array/array.h b/tiledb/sm/array/array.h
index 71e9361cb55..e7ec800f288 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/array/array.h
+++ b/tiledb/sm/array/array.h
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class OpenedArray {
       uint64_t timestamp_end_opened_at,
       bool is_remote)
       : resources_(resources)
-      , array_dir_(ArrayDirectory(resources, array_uri))
+      , array_dir_(std::in_place, resources, array_uri)
       , array_schema_latest_(nullptr)
       , metadata_(memory_tracker)
       , metadata_loaded_(false)
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@ class OpenedArray {
   }
 
   /** Sets the array directory. */
-  inline void set_array_directory(const ArrayDirectory&& dir) {
-    array_dir_ = dir;
+  inline void set_array_directory(ArrayDirectory&& dir) {
+    array_dir_.emplace(std::move(dir));
   }
 
   /** Returns the latest array schema. */
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ class Array {
   }
 
   /** Set the array directory. */
-  inline void set_array_directory(const ArrayDirectory&& dir) {
+  inline void set_array_directory(ArrayDirectory&& dir) {
     opened_array_->set_array_directory(std::move(dir));
   }
 
@@ -463,23 +463,10 @@ class Array {
    * between the provided timestamps.
    *
    * @param resources The context resources.
-   * @param uri The uri of the Array whose fragments are to be deleted.
-   * @param timestamp_start The start timestamp at which to delete fragments.
-   * @param timestamp_end The end timestamp at which to delete fragments.
    * @param array_dir An optional ArrayDirectory from which to delete fragments.
-   *
-   * @section Maturity Notes
-   * This is legacy code, ported from StorageManager during its removal process.
-   * Its existence supports the non-static `delete_fragments` API below,
-   * performing the actual deletion of fragments. This function is slated for
-   * removal and should be directly integrated into the function below.
    */
   static void delete_fragments(
-      ContextResources& resources,
-      const URI& uri,
-      uint64_t timestamp_start,
-      uint64_t timstamp_end,
-      std::optional<ArrayDirectory> array_dir = std::nullopt);
+      ContextResources& resources, ArrayDirectory& array_dir);
 
   /**
    * Handles local and remote deletion of fragments between the provided
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/array/array_directory.cc b/tiledb/sm/array/array_directory.cc
index 2dd9156447d..6d515f0fb12 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/array/array_directory.cc
+++ b/tiledb/sm/array/array_directory.cc
@@ -253,8 +253,8 @@ const std::vector<URI>& ArrayDirectory::commit_uris_to_vacuum() const {
   return commit_uris_to_vacuum_;
 }
 
-const std::unordered_set<std::string>&
-ArrayDirectory::consolidated_commit_uris_set() const {
+const std::unordered_set<URI>& ArrayDirectory::consolidated_commit_uris_set()
+    const {
   return consolidated_commit_uris_set_;
 }
 
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ void ArrayDirectory::delete_fragments_list(
   for (auto& timestamped_uri : uris) {
     auto commit_uri = get_commit_uri(timestamped_uri);
     commit_uris_to_delete.emplace_back(commit_uri);
-    if (consolidated_commit_uris_set().count(commit_uri.c_str()) != 0) {
+    if (consolidated_commit_uris_set().count(commit_uri) != 0) {
       commit_uris_to_ignore.emplace_back(commit_uri);
     }
   }
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ ArrayDirectory::filtered_fragment_uris(const bool full_overlap_only) const {
   if (mode_ == ArrayDirectoryMode::VACUUM_FRAGMENTS) {
     for (auto& uri : fragment_uris_to_vacuum.value()) {
       auto commit_uri = get_commit_uri(uri);
-      if (consolidated_commit_uris_set_.count(commit_uri.c_str()) == 0) {
+      if (consolidated_commit_uris_set_.count(commit_uri) == 0) {
         commit_uris_to_vacuum.emplace_back(commit_uri);
       } else {
         commit_uris_to_ignore.emplace_back(commit_uri);
@@ -672,8 +672,7 @@ ArrayDirectory::load_commits_dir_uris_v12_or_higher(
   for (size_t i = 0; i < commits_dir_uris.size(); ++i) {
     if (stdx::string::ends_with(
             commits_dir_uris[i].to_string(), constants::write_file_suffix)) {
-      if (consolidated_commit_uris_set_.count(commits_dir_uris[i].c_str()) ==
-          0) {
+      if (consolidated_commit_uris_set_.count(commits_dir_uris[i]) == 0) {
         auto name = commits_dir_uris[i].last_path_part();
         name =
             name.substr(0, name.size() - constants::write_file_suffix.size());
@@ -694,8 +693,7 @@ ArrayDirectory::load_commits_dir_uris_v12_or_higher(
 
       // Add the delete tile location if it overlaps the open start/end times
       if (timestamps_overlap(timestamp_range, false)) {
-        if (consolidated_commit_uris_set_.count(commits_dir_uris[i].c_str()) ==
-            0) {
+        if (consolidated_commit_uris_set_.count(commits_dir_uris[i]) == 0) {
           const auto base_uri_size = uri_.to_string().size();
           delete_and_update_tiles_location_.emplace_back(
               commits_dir_uris[i],
@@ -716,10 +714,7 @@ ArrayDirectory::list_fragment_metadata_dir_uris_v12_or_higher() {
   return ls(uri_.join_path(constants::array_fragment_meta_dir_name));
 }
 
-tuple<
-    Status,
-    optional<std::vector<URI>>,
-    optional<std::unordered_set<std::string>>>
+tuple<Status, optional<std::vector<URI>>, optional<std::unordered_set<URI>>>
 ArrayDirectory::load_consolidated_commit_uris(
     const std::vector<URI>& commits_dir_uris) {
   auto timer_se = stats_->start_timer("load_consolidated_commit_uris");
@@ -745,7 +740,7 @@ ArrayDirectory::load_consolidated_commit_uris(
 
   // Load all commit URIs. This is done in serial for now as it can be optimized
   // by vacuuming.
-  std::unordered_set<std::string> uris_set;
+  std::unordered_set<URI> uris_set;
   std::vector<std::pair<URI, std::string>> meta_files;
   for (uint64_t i = 0; i < commits_dir_uris.size(); i++) {
     auto& uri = commits_dir_uris[i];
@@ -763,7 +758,7 @@ ArrayDirectory::load_consolidated_commit_uris(
       std::stringstream ss(names);
       for (std::string condition_marker; std::getline(ss, condition_marker);) {
         if (ignore_set.count(condition_marker) == 0) {
-          uris_set.emplace(uri_.to_string() + condition_marker);
+          uris_set.emplace(uri_.append_string(condition_marker));
         }
 
         // If we have a delete, process the condition tile
@@ -807,7 +802,7 @@ ArrayDirectory::load_consolidated_commit_uris(
       uint64_t count = 0;
       bool all_in_set = true;
       for (std::string uri_str; std::getline(ss, uri_str);) {
-        if (uris_set.count(uri_.to_string() + uri_str) > 0) {
+        if (uris_set.count(uri_.append_string(uri_str)) > 0) {
           count++;
         } else {
           all_in_set = false;
@@ -879,7 +874,7 @@ void ArrayDirectory::load_commits_uris_to_consolidate(
     const std::vector<URI>& array_dir_uris,
     const std::vector<URI>& commits_dir_uris,
     const std::vector<URI>& consolidated_uris,
-    const std::unordered_set<std::string>& consolidated_uris_set) {
+    const std::unordered_set<URI>& consolidated_uris_set) {
   // Make a set of existing commit URIs.
   std::unordered_set<std::string> uris_set;
   for (auto& uri : array_dir_uris) {
@@ -902,7 +897,7 @@ void ArrayDirectory::load_commits_uris_to_consolidate(
   // Add the ok file URIs not already in the list.
   for (auto& uri : array_dir_uris) {
     if (stdx::string::ends_with(uri.to_string(), constants::ok_file_suffix)) {
-      if (consolidated_uris_set.count(uri.c_str()) == 0) {
+      if (consolidated_uris_set.count(uri) == 0) {
         commit_uris_to_consolidate_.emplace_back(uri);
       }
     }
@@ -914,7 +909,7 @@ void ArrayDirectory::load_commits_uris_to_consolidate(
             uri.to_string(), constants::write_file_suffix) ||
         stdx::string::ends_with(
             uri.to_string(), constants::delete_file_suffix)) {
-      if (consolidated_uris_set.count(uri.c_str()) == 0) {
+      if (consolidated_uris_set.count(uri) == 0) {
         commit_uris_to_consolidate_.emplace_back(uri);
       }
     }
@@ -1258,7 +1253,7 @@ bool ArrayDirectory::is_vacuum_file(const URI& uri) const {
 Status ArrayDirectory::is_fragment(
     const URI& uri,
     const std::unordered_set<std::string>& ok_uris_set,
-    const std::unordered_set<std::string>& consolidated_uris_set,
+    const std::unordered_set<URI>& consolidated_uris_set,
     int* is_fragment) const {
   // If the fragment ID does not have a name, ignore it.
   if (!FragmentID::has_fragment_name(uri)) {
@@ -1292,7 +1287,7 @@ Status ArrayDirectory::is_fragment(
 
   // Check set membership in consolidated uris
   if (consolidated_uris_set.count(
-          uri.to_string() + constants::ok_file_suffix) != 0) {
+          uri.append_string(constants::ok_file_suffix)) != 0) {
     *is_fragment = 1;
     return Status::Ok();
   }
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/array/array_directory.h b/tiledb/sm/array/array_directory.h
index ad48b62cf2a..565166cd606 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/array/array_directory.h
+++ b/tiledb/sm/array/array_directory.h
@@ -311,6 +311,10 @@ class ArrayDirectory {
       uint64_t timestamp_end,
       ArrayDirectoryMode mode = ArrayDirectoryMode::READ);
 
+  DISABLE_COPY_AND_COPY_ASSIGN(ArrayDirectory);
+
+  ArrayDirectory(ArrayDirectory&&) = default;
+
   /** Destructor. */
   ~ArrayDirectory() = default;
 
@@ -436,7 +440,7 @@ class ArrayDirectory {
   const std::vector<URI>& commit_uris_to_vacuum() const;
 
   /** Returns the consolidated commit URI set. */
-  const std::unordered_set<std::string>& consolidated_commit_uris_set() const;
+  const std::unordered_set<URI>& consolidated_commit_uris_set() const;
 
   /** Returns the URIs of the consolidated commit files to vacuum. */
   const std::vector<URI>& consolidated_commits_uris_to_vacuum() const;
@@ -511,7 +515,7 @@ class ArrayDirectory {
   }
 
   /** Accessor to consolidated_commit_uris_set_ */
-  inline std::unordered_set<std::string>& consolidated_commit_uris_set() {
+  inline std::unordered_set<URI>& consolidated_commit_uris_set() {
     return consolidated_commit_uris_set_;
   }
 
@@ -589,7 +593,7 @@ class ArrayDirectory {
   std::vector<URI> unfiltered_fragment_uris_;
 
   /** Consolidated commit URI set. */
-  std::unordered_set<std::string> consolidated_commit_uris_set_;
+  std::unordered_set<URI> consolidated_commit_uris_set_;
 
   /** The URIs of all the array schema files. */
   std::vector<URI> array_schema_uris_;
@@ -710,7 +714,7 @@ class ArrayDirectory {
       const std::vector<URI>& array_dir_uris,
       const std::vector<URI>& commits_dir_uris,
       const std::vector<URI>& consolidated_uris,
-      const std::unordered_set<std::string>& consolidated_uris_set);
+      const std::unordered_set<URI>& consolidated_uris_set);
 
   /**
    * Loads the consolidated commit URI from the commit directory and the files
@@ -718,10 +722,7 @@ class ArrayDirectory {
    *
    * @return Status, consolidated uris, set of all consolidated uris.
    */
-  tuple<
-      Status,
-      optional<std::vector<URI>>,
-      optional<std::unordered_set<std::string>>>
+  tuple<Status, optional<std::vector<URI>>, optional<std::unordered_set<URI>>>
   load_consolidated_commit_uris(const std::vector<URI>& commits_dir_uris);
 
   /** Loads the array metadata URIs. */
@@ -821,7 +822,7 @@ class ArrayDirectory {
   Status is_fragment(
       const URI& uri,
       const std::unordered_set<std::string>& ok_uris_set,
-      const std::unordered_set<std::string>& consolidated_uris_set,
+      const std::unordered_set<URI>& consolidated_uris_set,
       int32_t* is_fragment) const;
 
   /**
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/consolidator/consolidator.cc b/tiledb/sm/consolidator/consolidator.cc
index 1b713b9cec3..1cd376a3356 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/consolidator/consolidator.cc
+++ b/tiledb/sm/consolidator/consolidator.cc
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ void Consolidator::fragments_consolidate(
 
 void Consolidator::write_consolidated_commits_file(
     format_version_t write_version,
-    ArrayDirectory array_dir,
+    const ArrayDirectory& array_dir,
     const std::vector<URI>& commit_uris,
     ContextResources& resources) {
   // Compute the file name.
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/consolidator/consolidator.h b/tiledb/sm/consolidator/consolidator.h
index dcbdc37ad2a..af82fec8124 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/consolidator/consolidator.h
+++ b/tiledb/sm/consolidator/consolidator.h
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class Consolidator {
    */
   static void write_consolidated_commits_file(
       format_version_t write_version,
-      ArrayDirectory array_dir,
+      const ArrayDirectory& array_dir,
       const std::vector<URI>& commit_uris,
       ContextResources& resources);
 
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/filesystem/uri.cc b/tiledb/sm/filesystem/uri.cc
index 13a4a20f3d0..c69299fbb00 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/filesystem/uri.cc
+++ b/tiledb/sm/filesystem/uri.cc
@@ -50,32 +50,13 @@ namespace tiledb::sm {
 /*     CONSTRUCTORS & DESTRUCTORS    */
 /* ********************************* */
 
-URI::URI() {
-  uri_ = "";
-}
-
-URI::URI(char* path)
-    : URI((path == nullptr) ? std::string("") : std::string(path)) {
-}
+URI::URI() = default;
 
 URI::URI(const char* path)
-    : URI((path == nullptr) ? std::string("") : std::string(path)) {
+    : URI(path == nullptr ? std::string_view() : std::string_view(path)) {
 }
 
-URI::URI(std::string_view path) {
-  if (path.empty())
-    uri_ = "";
-  else if (URI::is_file(path))
-    uri_ = VFS::abs_path(path);
-  else if (
-      URI::is_s3(path) || URI::is_azure(path) || URI::is_gcs(path) ||
-      URI::is_memfs(path) || URI::is_tiledb(path))
-    uri_ = path;
-  else
-    uri_ = "";
-}
-
-URI::URI(std::string_view path, const bool& get_abs) {
+URI::URI(std::string_view path, bool get_abs) {
   if (path.empty()) {
     uri_ = "";
   } else if (URI::is_file(path)) {
@@ -111,9 +92,9 @@ URI URI::add_trailing_slash() const {
   if (uri_.empty()) {
     return URI("/");
   } else if (uri_.back() != '/') {
-    return URI(uri_ + '/');
+    return URI(CreateRaw, uri_ + '/');
   } else {
-    return URI(uri_);
+    return *this;
   }
 }
 
@@ -121,10 +102,10 @@ URI URI::remove_trailing_slash() const {
   if (!uri_.empty() && uri_.back() == '/') {
     std::string uri_str = uri_;
     uri_str.pop_back();
-    return URI(uri_str);
+    return URI(CreateRaw, std::move(uri_str));
   }
 
-  return URI(uri_);
+  return *this;
 }
 
 bool URI::empty() const {
@@ -343,30 +324,30 @@ std::optional<URI> URI::get_fragment_name() const {
   }
 
   if (slash_pos != std::string::npos) {
-    return URI(uri_.substr(0, slash_pos));
+    return URI(CreateRaw, uri_.substr(0, slash_pos));
   }
 
-  return URI(uri_);
+  return *this;
 }
 
 URI URI::join_path(const std::string& path) const {
   // Check for empty strings.
   if (path.empty()) {
-    return URI(uri_);
+    return *this;
   } else if (uri_.empty()) {
     return URI(path);
   }
 
   if (uri_.back() == '/') {
     if (path.front() == '/') {
-      return URI(uri_ + path.substr(1, path.size()));
+      return URI(CreateRaw, uri_ + path.substr(1, path.size()));
     }
-    return URI(uri_ + path);
+    return URI(CreateRaw, uri_ + path);
   } else {
     if (path.front() == '/') {
-      return URI(uri_ + path);
+      return URI(CreateRaw, uri_ + path);
     } else {
-      return URI(uri_ + "/" + path);
+      return URI(CreateRaw, uri_ + "/" + path);
     }
   }
 }
@@ -375,6 +356,10 @@ URI URI::join_path(const URI& uri) const {
   return join_path(uri.to_string());
 }
 
+URI URI::append_string(const std::string& str) const {
+  return URI(CreateRaw, uri_ + str);
+}
+
 std::string URI::last_path_part() const {
   return uri_.substr(uri_.find_last_of('/') + 1);
 }
@@ -385,7 +370,7 @@ std::string URI::last_two_path_parts() const {
 
 URI URI::parent_path() const {
   auto pos = this->remove_trailing_slash().to_string().find_last_of('/');
-  return URI(uri_.substr(0, pos + 1));
+  return URI(CreateRaw, uri_.substr(0, pos + 1));
 }
 
 std::string URI::to_path(const std::string& uri) {
@@ -432,16 +417,14 @@ bool URI::operator==(const URI& uri) const {
   return uri_ == uri.uri_;
 }
 
-bool URI::operator!=(const URI& uri) const {
-  return !operator==(uri);
+std::strong_ordering URI::operator<=>(const URI& uri) const {
+  return uri_ <=> uri.uri_;
 }
 
-bool URI::operator<(const URI& uri) const {
-  return uri_ < uri.uri_;
-}
+}  // namespace tiledb::sm
 
-bool URI::operator>(const URI& uri) const {
-  return uri_ > uri.uri_;
+namespace std {
+size_t hash<tiledb::sm::URI>::operator()(const tiledb::sm::URI& val) const {
+  return hash<string>()(val.to_string());
 }
-
-}  // namespace tiledb::sm
+}  // namespace std
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/filesystem/uri.h b/tiledb/sm/filesystem/uri.h
index 89356bc65ee..97a1aa3c871 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/filesystem/uri.h
+++ b/tiledb/sm/filesystem/uri.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #ifndef TILEDB_URI_H
 #define TILEDB_URI_H
 
+#include <compare>
 #include <string>
 
 #include "tiledb/common/status.h"
@@ -85,26 +86,10 @@ class URI {
   /**
    * Constructor.
    *
-   * @param path String that gets converted into an absolute path and stored
-   *     as a URI.
-   */
-  explicit URI(char* path);
-
-  /**
-   * Constructor.
-   *
-   * @param path String that gets converted into an absolute path and stored
-   *     as a URI.
+   * @param path The URI's path.
+   * @param get_abs Whether to convert path to absolute.
    */
-  explicit URI(std::string_view path);
-
-  /**
-   * Constructor.
-   *
-   * @param path
-   * @param get_abs should local files become absolute
-   */
-  explicit URI(std::string_view path, const bool& get_abs);
+  explicit URI(std::string_view path, bool get_abs = true);
 
   /**
    * Constructor. Throws if the given path is invalid (nullptr or empty).
@@ -291,6 +276,14 @@ class URI {
    */
   URI join_path(const URI& uri) const;
 
+  /**
+   * Appends a string to the input URI.
+   *
+   * @param str The string to append.
+   * @return The resulting URI.
+   */
+  URI append_string(const std::string& str) const;
+
   /** Returns the last part of the URI (i.e., excluding the parent). */
   std::string last_path_part() const;
 
@@ -331,17 +324,25 @@ class URI {
   bool operator==(const URI& uri) const;
 
   /** For comparing URIs alphanumerically. */
-  bool operator!=(const URI& uri) const;
-
-  /** For comparing URIs alphanumerically. */
-  bool operator<(const URI& uri) const;
-
-  /** For comparing URIs alphanumerically. */
-  bool operator>(const URI& uri) const;
+  std::strong_ordering operator<=>(const URI& uri) const;
 
   operator std::string_view() const noexcept;
 
  private:
+  struct CreateRawMarker {};
+
+  static constexpr CreateRawMarker CreateRaw{};
+
+  /**
+   * Creates a URI from a string, without making any modifications.
+   *
+   * @param create_raw CreateRawMarker dummy value.
+   * @param uri Rvalue reference to string.
+   */
+  URI(const CreateRawMarker, std::string&& uri)
+      : uri_(std::move(uri)) {
+  }
+
   /* ********************************* */
   /*        PRIVATE ATTRIBUTES         */
   /* ********************************* */
@@ -386,15 +387,17 @@ struct TimestampedURI {
   }
 };
 
+}  // namespace tiledb::sm
+
+namespace std {
+template <>
 /**
- * URI hash operator.
+ * Specialization of std::hash for URI. This lets it being used as a key for
+ * hash tables.
  */
-struct URIHasher {
-  std::size_t operator()(const URI& uri) const {
-    return std::hash<std::string>()(uri.to_string());
-  }
+struct hash<tiledb::sm::URI> {
+  size_t operator()(const tiledb::sm::URI& val) const;
 };
-
-}  // namespace tiledb::sm
+}  // namespace std
 
 #endif  // TILEDB_URI_H
diff --git a/tiledb/sm/serialization/array.cc b/tiledb/sm/serialization/array.cc
index 9a4ef23182e..158d54ff792 100644
--- a/tiledb/sm/serialization/array.cc
+++ b/tiledb/sm/serialization/array.cc
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ Status array_to_capnp(
 
   if (array->use_refactored_query_submit()) {
     // Serialize array directory (load if not loaded already)
-    const auto array_directory = array->load_array_directory();
+    auto& array_directory = array->load_array_directory();
     auto array_directory_builder = array_builder->initArrayDirectory();
     array_directory_to_capnp(array_directory, &array_directory_builder);