diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c5a54828..77e5bf05 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Version 170:
 * Add test::error to experimental
 * Add test::fail_count to experimental
 * Add test::stream to experimental
+* Use a shared string for example HTTP server doc roots
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/example/advanced/server-flex/advanced_server_flex.cpp b/example/advanced/server-flex/advanced_server_flex.cpp
index 75637079..29a43cc1 100644
--- a/example/advanced/server-flex/advanced_server_flex.cpp
+++ b/example/advanced/server-flex/advanced_server_flex.cpp
@@ -756,7 +756,7 @@ class http_session
         }
     };
 
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
     http::request<http::string_body> req_;
     queue queue_;
 
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ public:
     http_session(
         boost::asio::io_context& ioc,
         boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : doc_root_(doc_root)
         , queue_(*this)
         , timer_(ioc,
@@ -849,7 +849,7 @@ public:
         }
 
         // Send the response
-        handle_request(doc_root_, std::move(req_), queue_);
+        handle_request(*doc_root_, std::move(req_), queue_);
 
         // If we aren't at the queue limit, try to pipeline another request
         if(! queue_.is_full())
@@ -896,7 +896,7 @@ public:
     plain_http_session(
         tcp::socket socket,
         boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : http_session<plain_http_session>(
             socket.get_executor().context(),
             std::move(buffer),
@@ -977,7 +977,7 @@ public:
         tcp::socket socket,
         ssl::context& ctx,
         boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : http_session<ssl_http_session>(
             socket.get_executor().context(),
             std::move(buffer),
@@ -1107,7 +1107,7 @@ class detect_session : public std::enable_shared_from_this<detect_session>
     ssl::context& ctx_;
     boost::asio::strand<
         boost::asio::io_context::executor_type> strand_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
     boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer_;
 
 public:
@@ -1115,7 +1115,7 @@ public:
     detect_session(
         tcp::socket socket,
         ssl::context& ctx,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : socket_(std::move(socket))
         , ctx_(ctx)
         , strand_(socket_.get_executor())
@@ -1171,14 +1171,14 @@ class listener : public std::enable_shared_from_this<listener>
     ssl::context& ctx_;
     tcp::acceptor acceptor_;
     tcp::socket socket_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
 
 public:
     listener(
         boost::asio::io_context& ioc,
         ssl::context& ctx,
         tcp::endpoint endpoint,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : ctx_(ctx)
         , acceptor_(ioc)
         , socket_(ioc)
@@ -1276,7 +1276,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
     auto const address = boost::asio::ip::make_address(argv[1]);
     auto const port = static_cast<unsigned short>(std::atoi(argv[2]));
-    std::string const doc_root = argv[3];
+    auto const doc_root = std::make_shared<std::string>(argv[3]);
     auto const threads = std::max<int>(1, std::atoi(argv[4]));
 
     // The io_context is required for all I/O
diff --git a/example/advanced/server/advanced_server.cpp b/example/advanced/server/advanced_server.cpp
index 7b9980f8..2d3e5f24 100644
--- a/example/advanced/server/advanced_server.cpp
+++ b/example/advanced/server/advanced_server.cpp
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ class http_session : public std::enable_shared_from_this<http_session>
         boost::asio::io_context::executor_type> strand_;
     boost::asio::steady_timer timer_;
     boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
     http::request<http::string_body> req_;
     queue queue_;
 
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ public:
     explicit
     http_session(
         tcp::socket socket,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : socket_(std::move(socket))
         , strand_(socket_.get_executor())
         , timer_(socket_.get_executor().context(),
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ public:
         }
 
         // Send the response
-        handle_request(doc_root_, std::move(req_), queue_);
+        handle_request(*doc_root_, std::move(req_), queue_);
 
         // If we aren't at the queue limit, try to pipeline another request
         if(! queue_.is_full())
@@ -715,13 +715,13 @@ class listener : public std::enable_shared_from_this<listener>
 {
     tcp::acceptor acceptor_;
     tcp::socket socket_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
 
 public:
     listener(
         boost::asio::io_context& ioc,
         tcp::endpoint endpoint,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : acceptor_(ioc)
         , socket_(ioc)
         , doc_root_(doc_root)
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
     auto const address = boost::asio::ip::make_address(argv[1]);
     auto const port = static_cast<unsigned short>(std::atoi(argv[2]));
-    std::string const doc_root = argv[3];
+    auto const doc_root = std::make_shared<std::string>(argv[3]);
     auto const threads = std::max<int>(1, std::atoi(argv[4]));
 
     // The io_context is required for all I/O
diff --git a/example/http/server/async-ssl/http_server_async_ssl.cpp b/example/http/server/async-ssl/http_server_async_ssl.cpp
index 9c767152..9473cd84 100644
--- a/example/http/server/async-ssl/http_server_async_ssl.cpp
+++ b/example/http/server/async-ssl/http_server_async_ssl.cpp
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ class session : public std::enable_shared_from_this<session>
     boost::asio::strand<
         boost::asio::io_context::executor_type> strand_;
     boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
     http::request<http::string_body> req_;
     std::shared_ptr<void> res_;
     send_lambda lambda_;
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ public:
     session(
         tcp::socket socket,
         ssl::context& ctx,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : socket_(std::move(socket))
         , stream_(socket_, ctx)
         , strand_(socket_.get_executor())
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ public:
             return fail(ec, "read");
 
         // Send the response
-        handle_request(doc_root_, std::move(req_), lambda_);
+        handle_request(*doc_root_, std::move(req_), lambda_);
     }
 
     void
@@ -400,14 +400,14 @@ class listener : public std::enable_shared_from_this<listener>
     ssl::context& ctx_;
     tcp::acceptor acceptor_;
     tcp::socket socket_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
 
 public:
     listener(
         boost::asio::io_context& ioc,
         ssl::context& ctx,
         tcp::endpoint endpoint,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : ctx_(ctx)
         , acceptor_(ioc)
         , socket_(ioc)
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
     auto const address = boost::asio::ip::make_address(argv[1]);
     auto const port = static_cast<unsigned short>(std::atoi(argv[2]));
-    std::string const doc_root = argv[3];
+    auto const doc_root = std::make_shared<std::string>(argv[3]);
     auto const threads = std::max<int>(1, std::atoi(argv[4]));
 
     // The io_context is required for all I/O
diff --git a/example/http/server/async/http_server_async.cpp b/example/http/server/async/http_server_async.cpp
index 33177599..84272bee 100644
--- a/example/http/server/async/http_server_async.cpp
+++ b/example/http/server/async/http_server_async.cpp
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ class session : public std::enable_shared_from_this<session>
     boost::asio::strand<
         boost::asio::io_context::executor_type> strand_;
     boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
     http::request<http::string_body> req_;
     std::shared_ptr<void> res_;
     send_lambda lambda_;
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ public:
     explicit
     session(
         tcp::socket socket,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : socket_(std::move(socket))
         , strand_(socket_.get_executor())
         , doc_root_(doc_root)
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ public:
             return fail(ec, "read");
 
         // Send the response
-        handle_request(doc_root_, std::move(req_), lambda_);
+        handle_request(*doc_root_, std::move(req_), lambda_);
     }
 
     void
@@ -363,13 +363,13 @@ class listener : public std::enable_shared_from_this<listener>
 {
     tcp::acceptor acceptor_;
     tcp::socket socket_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
 
 public:
     listener(
         boost::asio::io_context& ioc,
         tcp::endpoint endpoint,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : acceptor_(ioc)
         , socket_(ioc)
         , doc_root_(doc_root)
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
     auto const address = boost::asio::ip::make_address(argv[1]);
     auto const port = static_cast<unsigned short>(std::atoi(argv[2]));
-    std::string const doc_root = argv[3];
+    auto const doc_root = std::make_shared<std::string>(argv[3]);
     auto const threads = std::max<int>(1, std::atoi(argv[4]));
 
     // The io_context is required for all I/O
diff --git a/example/http/server/coro-ssl/http_server_coro_ssl.cpp b/example/http/server/coro-ssl/http_server_coro_ssl.cpp
index e748d3d1..e9b40300 100644
--- a/example/http/server/coro-ssl/http_server_coro_ssl.cpp
+++ b/example/http/server/coro-ssl/http_server_coro_ssl.cpp
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ void
 do_session(
     tcp::socket& socket,
     ssl::context& ctx,
-    std::string const& doc_root,
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root,
     boost::asio::yield_context yield)
 {
     bool close = false;
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ do_session(
             return fail(ec, "read");
 
         // Send the response
-        handle_request(doc_root, std::move(req), lambda);
+        handle_request(*doc_root, std::move(req), lambda);
         if(ec)
             return fail(ec, "write");
         if(close)
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ do_listen(
     boost::asio::io_context& ioc,
     ssl::context& ctx,
     tcp::endpoint endpoint,
-    std::string const& doc_root,
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root,
     boost::asio::yield_context yield)
 {
     boost::system::error_code ec;
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
     auto const address = boost::asio::ip::make_address(argv[1]);
     auto const port = static_cast<unsigned short>(std::atoi(argv[2]));
-    std::string const doc_root = argv[3];
+    auto const doc_root = std::make_shared<std::string>(argv[3]);
     auto const threads = std::max<int>(1, std::atoi(argv[4]));
 
     // The io_context is required for all I/O
diff --git a/example/http/server/coro/http_server_coro.cpp b/example/http/server/coro/http_server_coro.cpp
index 988a0221..cf2cd5cc 100644
--- a/example/http/server/coro/http_server_coro.cpp
+++ b/example/http/server/coro/http_server_coro.cpp
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ struct send_lambda
 void
 do_session(
     tcp::socket& socket,
-    std::string const& doc_root,
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root,
     boost::asio::yield_context yield)
 {
     bool close = false;
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ do_session(
             return fail(ec, "read");
 
         // Send the response
-        handle_request(doc_root, std::move(req), lambda);
+        handle_request(*doc_root, std::move(req), lambda);
         if(ec)
             return fail(ec, "write");
         if(close)
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ void
 do_listen(
     boost::asio::io_context& ioc,
     tcp::endpoint endpoint,
-    std::string const& doc_root,
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root,
     boost::asio::yield_context yield)
 {
     boost::system::error_code ec;
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
     auto const address = boost::asio::ip::make_address(argv[1]);
     auto const port = static_cast<unsigned short>(std::atoi(argv[2]));
-    std::string const doc_root = argv[3];
+    auto const doc_root = std::make_shared<std::string>(argv[3]);
     auto const threads = std::max<int>(1, std::atoi(argv[4]));
 
     // The io_context is required for all I/O
diff --git a/example/http/server/flex/http_server_flex.cpp b/example/http/server/flex/http_server_flex.cpp
index f13f7a17..eb4f5faa 100644
--- a/example/http/server/flex/http_server_flex.cpp
+++ b/example/http/server/flex/http_server_flex.cpp
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ class session
         }
     };
 
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
     http::request<http::string_body> req_;
     std::shared_ptr<void> res_;
     send_lambda lambda_;
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ public:
     session(
         boost::asio::io_context& ioc,
         boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : doc_root_(doc_root)
         , lambda_(*this)
         , strand_(ioc.get_executor())
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ public:
             return fail(ec, "read");
 
         // Send the response
-        handle_request(doc_root_, std::move(req_), lambda_);
+        handle_request(*doc_root_, std::move(req_), lambda_);
     }
 
     void
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ public:
     plain_session(
         tcp::socket socket,
         boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : session<plain_session>(
             socket.get_executor().context(),
             std::move(buffer),
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ public:
         tcp::socket socket,
         ssl::context& ctx,
         boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : session<ssl_session>(
             socket.get_executor().context(),
             std::move(buffer),
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ class detect_session : public std::enable_shared_from_this<detect_session>
     ssl::context& ctx_;
     boost::asio::strand<
         boost::asio::io_context::executor_type> strand_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
     boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer_;
 
 public:
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ public:
     detect_session(
         tcp::socket socket,
         ssl::context& ctx,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : socket_(std::move(socket))
         , ctx_(ctx)
         , strand_(socket_.get_executor())
@@ -567,14 +567,14 @@ class listener : public std::enable_shared_from_this<listener>
         boost::asio::io_context::executor_type> strand_;
     tcp::acceptor acceptor_;
     tcp::socket socket_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
 
 public:
     listener(
         boost::asio::io_context& ioc,
         ssl::context& ctx,
         tcp::endpoint endpoint,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : ctx_(ctx)
         , strand_(ioc.get_executor())
         , acceptor_(ioc)
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
     auto const address = boost::asio::ip::make_address(argv[1]);
     auto const port = static_cast<unsigned short>(std::atoi(argv[2]));
-    std::string const doc_root = argv[3];
+    auto const doc_root = std::make_shared<std::string>(argv[3]);
     auto const threads = std::max<int>(1, std::atoi(argv[4]));
 
     // The io_context is required for all I/O
diff --git a/example/http/server/stackless-ssl/http_server_stackless_ssl.cpp b/example/http/server/stackless-ssl/http_server_stackless_ssl.cpp
index a0fbac4e..2555ed95 100644
--- a/example/http/server/stackless-ssl/http_server_stackless_ssl.cpp
+++ b/example/http/server/stackless-ssl/http_server_stackless_ssl.cpp
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ class session
     boost::asio::strand<
         boost::asio::io_context::executor_type> strand_;
     boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
     http::request<http::string_body> req_;
     std::shared_ptr<void> res_;
     send_lambda lambda_;
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ public:
     session(
         tcp::socket socket,
         ssl::context& ctx,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : socket_(std::move(socket))
         , stream_(socket_, ctx)
         , strand_(socket_.get_executor())
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ public:
                     return fail(ec, "read");
 
                 // Send the response
-                yield handle_request(doc_root_, std::move(req_), lambda_);
+                yield handle_request(*doc_root_, std::move(req_), lambda_);
                 if(ec)
                     return fail(ec, "write");
                 if(close)
@@ -386,14 +386,14 @@ class listener
     ssl::context& ctx_;
     tcp::acceptor acceptor_;
     tcp::socket socket_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
 
 public:
     listener(
         boost::asio::io_context& ioc,
         ssl::context& ctx,
         tcp::endpoint endpoint,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : ctx_(ctx)
         , acceptor_(ioc)
         , socket_(ioc)
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
     auto const address = boost::asio::ip::make_address(argv[1]);
     auto const port = static_cast<unsigned short>(std::atoi(argv[2]));
-    std::string const doc_root = argv[3];
+    auto const doc_root = std::make_shared<std::string>(argv[3]);
     auto const threads = std::max<int>(1, std::atoi(argv[4]));
 
     // The io_context is required for all I/O
diff --git a/example/http/server/stackless/http_server_stackless.cpp b/example/http/server/stackless/http_server_stackless.cpp
index e92d0ad2..71627ea1 100644
--- a/example/http/server/stackless/http_server_stackless.cpp
+++ b/example/http/server/stackless/http_server_stackless.cpp
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ class session
     boost::asio::strand<
         boost::asio::io_context::executor_type> strand_;
     boost::beast::flat_buffer buffer_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
     http::request<http::string_body> req_;
     std::shared_ptr<void> res_;
     send_lambda lambda_;
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ public:
     explicit
     session(
         tcp::socket socket,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : socket_(std::move(socket))
         , strand_(socket_.get_executor())
         , doc_root_(doc_root)
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ public:
                     return fail(ec, "read");
 
                 // Send the response
-                yield handle_request(doc_root_, std::move(req_), lambda_);
+                yield handle_request(*doc_root_, std::move(req_), lambda_);
                 if(ec)
                     return fail(ec, "write");
                 if(close)
@@ -355,13 +355,13 @@ class listener
 {
     tcp::acceptor acceptor_;
     tcp::socket socket_;
-    std::string const& doc_root_;
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> doc_root_;
 
 public:
     listener(
         boost::asio::io_context& ioc,
         tcp::endpoint endpoint,
-        std::string const& doc_root)
+        std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
         : acceptor_(ioc)
         , socket_(ioc)
         , doc_root_(doc_root)
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     }
     auto const address = boost::asio::ip::make_address(argv[1]);
     auto const port = static_cast<unsigned short>(std::atoi(argv[2]));
-    std::string const doc_root = argv[3];
+    auto const doc_root = std::make_shared<std::string>(argv[3]);
     auto const threads = std::max<int>(1, std::atoi(argv[4]));
 
     // The io_context is required for all I/O
diff --git a/example/http/server/sync-ssl/http_server_sync_ssl.cpp b/example/http/server/sync-ssl/http_server_sync_ssl.cpp
index 51498628..76b9d8df 100644
--- a/example/http/server/sync-ssl/http_server_sync_ssl.cpp
+++ b/example/http/server/sync-ssl/http_server_sync_ssl.cpp
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ void
 do_session(
     tcp::socket& socket,
     ssl::context& ctx,
-    std::string const& doc_root)
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
 {
     bool close = false;
     boost::system::error_code ec;
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ do_session(
             return fail(ec, "read");
 
         // Send the response
-        handle_request(doc_root, std::move(req), lambda);
+        handle_request(*doc_root, std::move(req), lambda);
         if(ec)
             return fail(ec, "write");
         if(close)
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
         }
         auto const address = boost::asio::ip::make_address(argv[1]);
         auto const port = static_cast<unsigned short>(std::atoi(argv[2]));
-        std::string const doc_root = argv[3];
+        auto const doc_root = std::make_shared<std::string>(argv[3]);
 
         // The io_context is required for all I/O
         boost::asio::io_context ioc{1};
diff --git a/example/http/server/sync/http_server_sync.cpp b/example/http/server/sync/http_server_sync.cpp
index 327aa54e..31b1a14d 100644
--- a/example/http/server/sync/http_server_sync.cpp
+++ b/example/http/server/sync/http_server_sync.cpp
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ struct send_lambda
 void
 do_session(
     tcp::socket& socket,
-    std::string const& doc_root)
+    std::shared_ptr<std::string const> const& doc_root)
 {
     bool close = false;
     boost::system::error_code ec;
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ do_session(
             return fail(ec, "read");
 
         // Send the response
-        handle_request(doc_root, std::move(req), lambda);
+        handle_request(*doc_root, std::move(req), lambda);
         if(ec)
             return fail(ec, "write");
         if(close)
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
         }
         auto const address = boost::asio::ip::make_address(argv[1]);
         auto const port = static_cast<unsigned short>(std::atoi(argv[2]));
-        std::string const doc_root = argv[3];
+        auto const doc_root = std::make_shared<std::string>(argv[3]);
 
         // The io_context is required for all I/O
         boost::asio::io_context ioc{1};