diff --git a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/lib.rs b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/lib.rs
index 2f400f0..8c39441 100644
--- a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/lib.rs
+++ b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/lib.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ mod python;
 mod schema;
 mod token;
 
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use error::Error;
 use token::*;
 
@@ -26,8 +27,11 @@ impl XmlSchemaValidator {
     /// Create a new validator with the given schema text
     pub fn new(schema_text: &str) -> Result<Self> {
         let schema: schema::XsSchema = quick_xml::de::from_str(schema_text)?;
-        let current_tokens = schema.xs_element.iter().map(|element| {
-            Token::StartOfFile(StartOfFile::new(element.clone()))
+        let schema_arc = Arc::new(schema);
+        
+        let current_tokens = schema_arc.xs_element.iter().map(|element| {
+            let element_arc = Arc::new(element.clone());
+            Token::StartOfFile(StartOfFile::new(element_arc))
         }).collect();
         
         Ok(Self {
@@ -46,7 +50,7 @@ impl XmlSchemaValidator {
     /// Append a single character to the validator
     fn append_char(&mut self, c: char) -> Result<()> {
         let mut new_tokens = vec![];
-        for token in self.current_tokens.clone() {
+        for token in self.current_tokens.drain(..) {
             new_tokens.append(&mut token.append(c));
         }
         if new_tokens.is_empty() {
diff --git a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_close_end.rs b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_close_end.rs
index 74566f9..1fc96da 100644
--- a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_close_end.rs
+++ b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_close_end.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::*;
 
-/// Represents 
+/// Represents the end of a closing element tag
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct ElementCloseEnd {
 }
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ impl ElementCloseEnd {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn append(&self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
+    pub fn append(self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
         if '>' == c {
             vec![Token::EndOfFile(EndOfFile::new())]
         } else {
diff --git a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_close_name.rs b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_close_name.rs
index 8b4ac89..391f627 100644
--- a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_close_name.rs
+++ b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_close_name.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use crate::*;
 
 /// Represents a closing element tag that is in the process of being parsed
@@ -5,22 +6,22 @@ use crate::*;
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct ElementCloseName {
     /// The element that was previously opened and is now being closed
-    element: schema::XsElement,
+    element: Arc<schema::XsElement>,
     /// Current buffer of characters processed for the element name
     buffer: String,
 }
 
 impl ElementCloseName {
     /// Create a new instance with the given buffer
-    pub fn new(element: schema::XsElement, buffer: String) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(element: Arc<schema::XsElement>, buffer: String) -> Self {
         Self {
             element,
             buffer,
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn append(&self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
-        let new_buffer = self.buffer.clone() + &c.to_string();
+    pub fn append(self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
+        let new_buffer = self.buffer + &c.to_string();
         
         // If still building the element name
         if self.element.name.starts_with(&new_buffer) {
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ impl ElementCloseName {
             } else {
                 // Still building the element name
                 vec![Token::ElementCloseName(ElementCloseName::new(
-                    self.element.clone(),
+                    Arc::clone(&self.element),
                     new_buffer,
                 ))]
             }
diff --git a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_close_start.rs b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_close_start.rs
index 328f4cc..7e52c80 100644
--- a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_close_start.rs
+++ b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_close_start.rs
@@ -1,31 +1,32 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use crate::*;
 
 /// Represents the start of an XML element closing tag (the '</' sequence)
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct ElementCloseStart {
     /// The element that was previously opened and is now being closed
-    element: schema::XsElement,
+    element: Arc<schema::XsElement>,
     has_slash: bool,
 }
 
 impl ElementCloseStart {
-    pub fn new(element: schema::XsElement) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(element: Arc<schema::XsElement>) -> Self {
         Self {
             element,
             has_slash: false,
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn append(&self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
+    pub fn append(self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
         if !self.has_slash && '/' == c {
             vec![Token::ElementCloseStart(Self {
-                element: self.element.clone(),
+                element: Arc::clone(&self.element),
                 has_slash: true,
             })]
         } else {
             if self.element.name.starts_with(c) {
                 vec![Token::ElementCloseName(ElementCloseName::new(
-                    self.element.clone(),
+                    Arc::clone(&self.element),
                     c.to_string(),
                 ))]
             } else {
diff --git a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_open_end.rs b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_open_end.rs
index 5f7387e..467b0bb 100644
--- a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_open_end.rs
+++ b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_open_end.rs
@@ -1,19 +1,20 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use crate::*;
 
 /// Represents a fully opened XML element, containing the schema element reference
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct ElementOpenEnd {
-    element: schema::XsElement,
+    element: Arc<schema::XsElement>,
 }
 
 impl ElementOpenEnd {
-    pub fn new(element: schema::XsElement) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(element: Arc<schema::XsElement>) -> Self {
         Self {
             element,
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn append(&self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
+    pub fn append(self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
         // Check if the element allows text content (mixed="true")
         let allows_text = self.element.xs_complex_type.mixed
             .as_ref()
@@ -23,10 +24,10 @@ impl ElementOpenEnd {
         if allows_text {
             if c.is_whitespace() {
                 vec![Token::Whitespace(Whitespace::new(
-                    vec![Token::TextContent(TextContent::new(self.element.clone()))]
+                    vec![Token::TextContent(TextContent::new(Arc::clone(&self.element)))]
                 ))]
             } else {
-                vec![Token::TextContent(TextContent::new(self.element.clone()))]
+                vec![Token::TextContent(TextContent::new(Arc::clone(&self.element)))]
             }
         } else {
             vec![]
diff --git a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_open_name.rs b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_open_name.rs
index 25bd28e..bd221a8 100644
--- a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_open_name.rs
+++ b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_open_name.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use crate::*;
 
 /// Represents an XML element that is in the process of being opened, containing the text buffer and schema element reference
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct ElementOpenName {
     buffer: String,
-    element: schema::XsElement,
+    element: Arc<schema::XsElement>,
 }
 
 impl ElementOpenName {
-    pub fn new(element: schema::XsElement, buffer: String) -> Result<Self> {
+    pub fn new(element: Arc<schema::XsElement>, buffer: String) -> Result<Self> {
         if element.name.starts_with(buffer.as_str()) {
             Ok(Self {
                 buffer,
@@ -19,19 +20,19 @@ impl ElementOpenName {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn append(&self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
-        let buffer = self.buffer.clone() + &c.to_string();
+    pub fn append(self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
+        let buffer = self.buffer + &c.to_string();
         if self.element.name.starts_with(buffer.as_str()) {
             vec![Token::ElementName(ElementOpenName {
                 buffer,
-                element: self.element.clone(),
+                element: Arc::clone(&self.element),
             })]
         } else if c.is_whitespace() {
             vec![Token::Whitespace(Whitespace::new(
-                vec![Token::ElementOpen(ElementOpenEnd::new(self.element.clone()))]
+                vec![Token::ElementOpen(ElementOpenEnd::new(Arc::clone(&self.element)))]
             ))]
         } else if '>' == c {
-            vec![Token::ElementOpen(ElementOpenEnd::new(self.element.clone()))]
+            vec![Token::ElementOpen(ElementOpenEnd::new(Arc::clone(&self.element)))]
         } else {
             vec![]
         }
diff --git a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_open_start.rs b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_open_start.rs
index b832076..683fed1 100644
--- a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_open_start.rs
+++ b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/element_open_start.rs
@@ -1,20 +1,21 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use crate::*;
 
 /// Represents an XML element that is in the process of being opened, containing the text buffer and schema element reference
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct ElementOpenStart {
-    element: schema::XsElement,
+    element: Arc<schema::XsElement>,
 }
 
 impl ElementOpenStart {
-    pub fn new(element: schema::XsElement) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(element: Arc<schema::XsElement>) -> Self {
         Self {
             element,
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn append(&self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
-        let element_name = ElementOpenName::new(self.element.clone(), c.to_string());
+    pub fn append(self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
+        let element_name = ElementOpenName::new(Arc::clone(&self.element), c.to_string());
         if let Ok(element_name) = element_name {
             vec![Token::ElementName(element_name)]
         } else {
diff --git a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/end_of_file.rs b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/end_of_file.rs
index 4b17cfb..124abda 100644
--- a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/end_of_file.rs
+++ b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/end_of_file.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::*;
 
-/// Represents the final state at the end of an XML file, containing a reference to the root element schema
+/// Represents the final state at the end of an XML file
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct EndOfFile {
 }
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ impl EndOfFile {
         Self {}
     }
 
-    pub fn append(&self, _c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
+    pub fn append(self, _c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
         vec![]
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/mod.rs b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/mod.rs
index 9f8def0..0e6dbfa 100644
--- a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/mod.rs
+++ b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/mod.rs
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ pub enum Token {
 }
 
 impl Token {
-    pub fn append(&self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
+    pub fn append(self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
         match self {
             Token::ElementCloseEnd(element_close_end) => element_close_end.append(c),
             Token::ElementCloseName(element_close_name) => element_close_name.append(c),
diff --git a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/start_of_file.rs b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/start_of_file.rs
index 8e4bc64..27e3232 100644
--- a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/start_of_file.rs
+++ b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/start_of_file.rs
@@ -1,19 +1,20 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use crate::*;
 
 /// Represents the initial state at the start of an XML file, containing a reference to the root element schema
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct StartOfFile {
-    element: schema::XsElement,
+    element: Arc<schema::XsElement>,
 }
 
 impl StartOfFile {
-    pub fn new(element: schema::XsElement) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(element: Arc<schema::XsElement>) -> Self {
         Self { element }
     }
 
-    pub fn append(&self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
+    pub fn append(self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
         if '<' == c {
-            vec![Token::ElementStart(ElementOpenStart::new(self.element.clone()))]
+            vec![Token::ElementStart(ElementOpenStart::new(Arc::clone(&self.element)))]
         } else {
             vec![]
         }
diff --git a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/text_content.rs b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/text_content.rs
index 1b80991..033776d 100644
--- a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/text_content.rs
+++ b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/text_content.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use crate::*;
 
 /// Represents the text content within an XML element
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct TextContent {
-    element: schema::XsElement,
+    element: Arc<schema::XsElement>,
     buffer: String,
 }
 
 impl TextContent {
-    pub fn new(element: schema::XsElement) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(element: Arc<schema::XsElement>) -> Self {
         Self {
             element,
             buffer: String::new(),
@@ -16,20 +17,20 @@ impl TextContent {
     }
 
     /// Create a new TextContent with the given initial buffer
-    pub fn with_buffer(element: schema::XsElement, buffer: String) -> Self {
+    pub fn with_buffer(element: Arc<schema::XsElement>, buffer: String) -> Self {
         Self {
             element,
             buffer,
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn append(&self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
+    pub fn append(self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
         if c == '<' {
-            vec![Token::ElementCloseStart(ElementCloseStart::new(self.element.clone()))]
+            vec![Token::ElementCloseStart(ElementCloseStart::new(Arc::clone(&self.element)))]
         } else {
             vec![Token::TextContent(TextContent::with_buffer(
-                self.element.clone(),
-                self.buffer.clone() + &c.to_string(),
+                Arc::clone(&self.element),
+                self.buffer + &c.to_string(),
             ))]
         }
     }
diff --git a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/whitespace.rs b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/whitespace.rs
index 5ea4376..71f432c 100644
--- a/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/whitespace.rs
+++ b/lib/xml_schema_validator/src/token/whitespace.rs
@@ -13,14 +13,14 @@ impl Whitespace {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn append(&self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
+    pub fn append(self, c: char) -> Vec<Token> {
         if c.is_whitespace() {
             vec![Token::Whitespace(Self {
-                next: self.next.clone()
+                next: self.next
             })]
         } else {
             let mut tokens = vec![];
-            for token in self.next.iter() {
+            for token in self.next {
                 tokens.append(&mut token.append(c))
             }
             tokens