# 4.6 `cStringIO` -- Faster version of `StringIO`

The module `cStringIO` provides an interface similar to that of the `StringIO` module. Heavy use of `StringIO.StringIO` objects can be made more efficient by using the function `StringIO()` from this module instead.

Since this module provides a factory function which returns objects of built-in types, there's no way to build your own version using subclassing. Use the original `StringIO` module in that case.

The following data objects are provided as well:

`InputType`
  The type object of the objects created by calling `StringIO` with a string parameter.

`OutputType`
  The type object of the objects returned by calling `StringIO` with no parameters.

There is a C API to the module as well; refer to the module source for more information.