Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for storing a character string in a HII database in an EFI environment are provided. According to one method, a request is received to store a character string in an HII database within an EFI environment. Included in the request are one or more attributes that distinctly identify the character string to be created and added to the HII database. A determination is then made as to whether a character string having identical or nearly identical distinct attributes was previously stored in the HII database. If a character string having identical distinct attributes was previously stored in the HII database, the character string is not stored in the HII database and the previously stored string's unique token is retrieved. If a character string having distinct attributes was not previously stored in the HII database, then the character string is stored in the HII database and a new unique token for the string is retrieved.