modify in validation instead to avoid copy

Only allocate the set_trigger when set_action is configured.
This saves ~20-24 bytes of heap per template select that doesn't
use set_action.

esphome/components/template/select/__init__.py

@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ from .. import template_ns
 TemplateSelect = template_ns.class_(
     "TemplateSelect", select.Select, cg.PollingComponent
 )
+TemplateSelectWithSetAction = template_ns.class_(
+    "TemplateSelectWithSetAction", TemplateSelect
+)
 
 
 def validate(config):
@@ -39,6 +42,11 @@ def validate(config):
         raise cv.Invalid(
             "Either optimistic mode must be enabled, or set_action must be set, to handle the option being set."
         )
+
+    # Use subclass with trigger only when set_action is configured
+    if CONF_SET_ACTION in config:
+        config[CONF_ID].type = TemplateSelectWithSetAction
+
     return config
 
 

esphome/components/template/select/template_select.cpp

@@ -41,8 +41,6 @@ void TemplateSelect::update() {
 }
 
 void TemplateSelect::control(size_t index) {
-  this->set_trigger_->trigger(StringRef(this->option_at(index)));
-
   if (this->optimistic_)
     this->publish_state(index);
 
@@ -50,6 +48,11 @@ void TemplateSelect::control(size_t index) {
     this->pref_.save(&index);
 }
 
+void TemplateSelectWithSetAction::control(size_t index) {
+  this->set_trigger_.trigger(StringRef(this->option_at(index)));
+  TemplateSelect::control(index);
+}
+
 void TemplateSelect::dump_config() {
   LOG_SELECT("", "Template Select", this);
   LOG_UPDATE_INTERVAL(this);

esphome/components/template/select/template_select.h

@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
 
 namespace esphome::template_ {
 
-class TemplateSelect final : public select::Select, public PollingComponent {
+/// Base template select class - used when no set_action is configured
+class TemplateSelect : public select::Select, public PollingComponent {
  public:
   template<typename F> void set_template(F &&f) { this->f_.set(std::forward<F>(f)); }
 
@@ -18,7 +19,6 @@ class TemplateSelect final : public select::Select, public PollingComponent {
   void dump_config() override;
   float get_setup_priority() const override { return setup_priority::HARDWARE; }
 
-  Trigger<StringRef> *get_set_trigger() const { return this->set_trigger_; }
   void set_optimistic(bool optimistic) { this->optimistic_ = optimistic; }
   void set_initial_option_index(size_t initial_option_index) { this->initial_option_index_ = initial_option_index; }
   void set_restore_value(bool restore_value) { this->restore_value_ = restore_value; }
@@ -28,10 +28,19 @@ class TemplateSelect final : public select::Select, public PollingComponent {
   bool optimistic_ = false;
   size_t initial_option_index_{0};
   bool restore_value_ = false;
-  Trigger<StringRef> *set_trigger_ = new Trigger<StringRef>();
   TemplateLambda<std::string> f_;
 
   ESPPreferenceObject pref_;
 };
 
+/// Template select with set_action trigger - only instantiated when set_action is configured
+class TemplateSelectWithSetAction final : public TemplateSelect {
+ public:
+  Trigger<StringRef> *get_set_trigger() { return &this->set_trigger_; }
+
+ protected:
+  void control(size_t index) override;
+  Trigger<StringRef> set_trigger_;
+};
+
 }  // namespace esphome::template_

tests/components/template/common-base.yaml

@@ -296,6 +296,16 @@ select:
           // Migration guide: Store in std::string
           std::string stored_option(id(template_select).current_option());
           ESP_LOGI("test", "Stored: %s", stored_option.c_str());
+  - platform: template
+    id: template_select_with_action
+    name: "Template select with action"
+    options:
+      - option_a
+      - option_b
+    set_action:
+      - logger.log:
+          format: "Selected: %s"
+          args: ["x.c_str()"]
 
 lock:
   - platform: template

tests/integration/fixtures/select_stringref_trigger.yaml

@@ -56,7 +56,21 @@ select:
             std::string prefix = x.substr(0, 6);
             ESP_LOGI("test", "Substr prefix: %s", prefix.c_str());
 
-  # Second select with numeric options to test ADL functions
+  # Second select with set_action trigger (uses TemplateSelectWithSetAction subclass)
+  - platform: template
+    name: "Action Select"
+    id: action_select
+    options:
+      - "Action A"
+      - "Action B"
+    set_action:
+      then:
+        # Test: set_action trigger receives StringRef
+        - logger.log:
+            format: "set_action triggered: %s"
+            args: ['x.c_str()']
+
+  # Third select with numeric options to test ADL functions
   - platform: template
     name: "Baud Rate"
     id: baud_select

tests/integration/test_select_stringref_trigger.py

@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ async def test_select_stringref_trigger(
     find_substr_future = loop.create_future()
     find_char_future = loop.create_future()
     substr_future = loop.create_future()
+    # set_action trigger (TemplateSelectWithSetAction subclass)
+    set_action_future = loop.create_future()
     # ADL functions
     stoi_future = loop.create_future()
     stol_future = loop.create_future()
@@ -43,6 +45,8 @@ async def test_select_stringref_trigger(
     find_substr_pattern = re.compile(r"Found 'Option' in value")
     find_char_pattern = re.compile(r"Space at position: 6")  # space at index 6
     substr_pattern = re.compile(r"Substr prefix: Option")
+    # set_action trigger pattern (TemplateSelectWithSetAction subclass)
+    set_action_pattern = re.compile(r"set_action triggered: Action B")
     # ADL function patterns (115200 from baud rate select)
     stoi_pattern = re.compile(r"stoi result: 115200")
     stol_pattern = re.compile(r"stol result: 115200")
@@ -67,6 +71,9 @@ async def test_select_stringref_trigger(
             find_char_future.set_result(True)
         if not substr_future.done() and substr_pattern.search(line):
             substr_future.set_result(True)
+        # set_action trigger
+        if not set_action_future.done() and set_action_pattern.search(line):
+            set_action_future.set_result(True)
         # ADL functions
         if not stoi_future.done() and stoi_pattern.search(line):
             stoi_future.set_result(True)
@@ -89,22 +96,21 @@ async def test_select_stringref_trigger(
         # List entities to find our select
         entities, _ = await client.list_entities_services()
 
-        select_entity = next(
-            (e for e in entities if hasattr(e, "options") and e.name == "Test Select"),
-            None,
-        )
+        select_entity = next((e for e in entities if e.name == "Test Select"), None)
         assert select_entity is not None, "Test Select entity not found"
 
-        baud_entity = next(
-            (e for e in entities if hasattr(e, "options") and e.name == "Baud Rate"),
-            None,
-        )
+        baud_entity = next((e for e in entities if e.name == "Baud Rate"), None)
         assert baud_entity is not None, "Baud Rate entity not found"
 
+        action_entity = next((e for e in entities if e.name == "Action Select"), None)
+        assert action_entity is not None, "Action Select entity not found"
+
         # Change select to Option B - this should trigger on_value with StringRef
         client.select_command(select_entity.key, "Option B")
         # Change baud to 115200 - this tests ADL functions (stoi, stol, stof, stod)
         client.select_command(baud_entity.key, "115200")
+        # Change action select - tests set_action trigger (TemplateSelectWithSetAction)
+        client.select_command(action_entity.key, "Action B")
 
         # Wait for all log messages confirming StringRef operations work
         try:
@@ -118,6 +124,7 @@ async def test_select_stringref_trigger(
                     find_substr_future,
                     find_char_future,
                     substr_future,
+                    set_action_future,
                     stoi_future,
                     stol_future,
                     stof_future,
@@ -135,6 +142,7 @@ async def test_select_stringref_trigger(
                 "find_substr": find_substr_future.done(),
                 "find_char": find_char_future.done(),
                 "substr": substr_future.done(),
+                "set_action": set_action_future.done(),
                 "stoi": stoi_future.done(),
                 "stol": stol_future.done(),
                 "stof": stof_future.done(),