diff --git a/wire/core/FieldgroupsArray.php b/wire/core/FieldgroupsArray.php
index 00fbb2d7..e99288bc 100644
--- a/wire/core/FieldgroupsArray.php
+++ b/wire/core/FieldgroupsArray.php
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
  *
  * WireArray of Fieldgroup instances as used by Fieldgroups class. 
  *
- * ProcessWire 3.x, Copyright 2016 by Ryan Cramer
+ * ProcessWire 3.x, Copyright 2024 by Ryan Cramer
  * https://processwire.com
  *
  *
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ class FieldgroupsArray extends WireArray {
 	 *
 	 */
 	public function getItemKey($item) {
+		/** @var Fieldgroup $item */
 		return $item->id;
 	}
 
diff --git a/wire/core/Fieldtypes.php b/wire/core/Fieldtypes.php
index a5750c5b..56e0aee3 100644
--- a/wire/core/Fieldtypes.php
+++ b/wire/core/Fieldtypes.php
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * #pw-summary Maintains a collection of Fieldtype modules.
  * #pw-var $fieldtypes
  * 
- * ProcessWire 3.x, Copyright 2020 by Ryan Cramer
+ * ProcessWire 3.x, Copyright 2024 by Ryan Cramer
  * https://processwire.com
  *
  * @property FieldtypeCheckbox $FieldtypeCheckbox
@@ -88,13 +88,24 @@ class Fieldtypes extends WireArray {
 	 */
 	protected $isAPI = false;
 
+	/**
+	 * Construct
+	 * 
+	 */
+	public function __construct() {
+		parent::__construct();
+		$this->usesNumericKeys = false;
+		$this->indexedByName = true;
+		$this->nameProperty = 'className';
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Construct the $fieldtypes API var (load all Fieldtype modules into it)
 	 *
  	 */
 	public function init() {
 		$this->isAPI = true;
-		foreach($this->wire()->modules->findByPrefix('Fieldtype', 3) as $name => $module) {
+		foreach($this->wire()->modules->findByPrefix('Fieldtype', 3) as /* $name => */ $module) {
 			$this->add($module); 
 		}
 	}
@@ -153,16 +164,6 @@ class Fieldtypes extends WireArray {
 		return $item->className();
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Does this WireArray use numeric keys only? 
-	 *
-	 * @return bool
-	 *
-	 */
-	protected function usesNumericKeys() {
-		return false;
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * Per the WireArray interface, return a blank copy
 	 *
@@ -229,5 +230,3 @@ class Fieldtypes extends WireArray {
 	public function getNext($item, $strict = true) { $this->preload(); return parent::getNext($item, $strict); }
 	public function getPrev($item, $strict = true) { $this->preload(); return parent::getPrev($item, $strict); }
 }
-
-
diff --git a/wire/core/InputfieldsArray.php b/wire/core/InputfieldsArray.php
index 033461f3..4bb4c304 100644
--- a/wire/core/InputfieldsArray.php
+++ b/wire/core/InputfieldsArray.php
@@ -5,12 +5,18 @@
  *
  * The default numeric indexing of a WireArray is not overridden.
  *
- * ProcessWire 3.x, Copyright 2016 by Ryan Cramer
+ * ProcessWire 3.x, Copyright 2024 by Ryan Cramer
  * https://processwire.com
  *
  */
 
 class InputfieldsArray extends WireArray {
+	
+	public function __construct() {
+		parent::__construct();
+		$this->usesNumericKeys = true;
+		$this->indexedByName = false;
+	}
 
 	/**
 	 * Per WireArray interface, only Inputfield instances are accepted.
@@ -31,6 +37,7 @@ class InputfieldsArray extends WireArray {
 	 *
 	 */
 	public function find($selector) {
+		/** @var WireArray|InputfieldsArray $a */
 		$a = parent::find($selector);
 		foreach($this as $item) {
 			if(!$item instanceof InputfieldWrapper) continue;
@@ -44,8 +51,4 @@ class InputfieldsArray extends WireArray {
 		return null; // Inputfield is abstract, so there is nothing to return here
 	}
 
-	public function usesNumericKeys() {
-		return true;
-	}
-
 }
diff --git a/wire/core/Notices.php b/wire/core/Notices.php
index 104a21ee..4df58eae 100644
--- a/wire/core/Notices.php
+++ b/wire/core/Notices.php
@@ -507,6 +507,12 @@ class NoticeWarning extends Notice {
 class Notices extends WireArray {
 	
 	const logAllNotices = false;  // for debugging/dev purposes
+	
+	public function __construct() {
+		parent::__construct();
+		$this->usesNumericKeys = true;
+		$this->indexedByName = false;
+	}
 
 	/**
 	 * Initialize Notices API var
@@ -548,8 +554,9 @@ class Notices extends WireArray {
 	 * 
 	 */
 	protected function allowNotice(Notice $item) {
-		
-		$user = $this->wire()->user;
+
+		// intentionally not using $this->wire()->user; in case this gets called early in boot
+		$user = $this->wire('user'); 
 		
 		if($item->flags & Notice::debug) {
 			if(!$this->wire()->config->debug) return false;
diff --git a/wire/core/PageArray.php b/wire/core/PageArray.php
index a16d736f..2d6f35f5 100644
--- a/wire/core/PageArray.php
+++ b/wire/core/PageArray.php
@@ -74,6 +74,16 @@ class PageArray extends PaginatedArray implements WirePaginatable {
 	 */
 	protected $keyIndex = array();
 
+	/**
+	 * Construct
+	 *
+	 */
+	public function __construct() {
+		parent::__construct();
+		$this->indexedByName = false;
+		$this->usesNumericKeys = true;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Template method that descendant classes may use to validate items added to this WireArray
 	 * 
@@ -142,18 +152,6 @@ class PageArray extends PaginatedArray implements WirePaginatable {
 		}
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Does this PageArray use numeric keys only? (yes it does)
-	 * 
-	 * Defined here to override the slower check in WireArray
-	 * 
-	 * @return bool
-	 *
-	 */
-	protected function usesNumericKeys() {
-		return true;
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * Per WireArray interface, return a blank Page
 	 * 
diff --git a/wire/core/Pagefiles.php b/wire/core/Pagefiles.php
index b9b7da74..de51cc8c 100644
--- a/wire/core/Pagefiles.php
+++ b/wire/core/Pagefiles.php
@@ -124,6 +124,8 @@ class Pagefiles extends WireArray implements PageFieldValueInterface {
 	public function __construct(Page $page) {
 		$this->setPage($page); 
 		parent::__construct();
+		$this->usesNumericKeys = false;
+		$this->indexedByName = true;
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/wire/core/Selectors.php b/wire/core/Selectors.php
index 4f38dd65..14ab00a4 100644
--- a/wire/core/Selectors.php
+++ b/wire/core/Selectors.php
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ class Selectors extends WireArray {
 	 */
 	public function __construct($selector = null) {
 		parent::__construct();
+		$this->usesNumericKeys = false;
+		$this->indexedByName = false;
 		if(!is_null($selector)) $this->init($selector);
 	}
 
diff --git a/wire/core/TemplatesArray.php b/wire/core/TemplatesArray.php
index f765a902..8aa3b538 100644
--- a/wire/core/TemplatesArray.php
+++ b/wire/core/TemplatesArray.php
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
  *
  * WireArray of Template instances as used by Templates class.
  *
- * ProcessWire 3.x, Copyright 2016 by Ryan Cramer
+ * ProcessWire 3.x, Copyright 2024 by Ryan Cramer
  * https://processwire.com
  *
  */
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ class TemplatesArray extends WireArray {
 	}
 
 	public function getItemKey($item) {
+		/** @var Template $item */
 		return $item->id;
 	}
 
diff --git a/wire/core/WireArray.php b/wire/core/WireArray.php
index 3a1dcc5b..d68c387e 100644
--- a/wire/core/WireArray.php
+++ b/wire/core/WireArray.php
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
  *
  * @todo can we implement next() and prev() like on Page, as alias to getNext() and getPrev()?
  * 
- * ProcessWire 3.x, Copyright 2022 by Ryan Cramer
+ * ProcessWire 3.x, Copyright 2024 by Ryan Cramer
  * https://processwire.com
  * 
  * @method WireArray and($item)
@@ -88,12 +88,47 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 	 */
 	protected $sortFlags = 0; // 0 == SORT_REGULAR
 
+	/**
+	 * For WireArray that holds WireData objects, property that contains the item’s name
+	 * 
+	 * @var string
+	 * @since 3.0.240
+	 * 
+	 */	
+	protected $nameProperty = 'name';
+
+	/**
+	 * Is this WireArray indexed by the name property?
+	 * 
+	 * This will be auto-detected at runtime unless specifically set in the constructor.
+	 * 
+	 * @var bool|null Bool once known, null if not yet known
+	 * @since 3.0.240
+	 * 
+	 */
+	protected $indexedByName = null;
+
+	/**
+	 * Does this WireArray use numeric keys?
+	 * 
+	 * This will be auto-detected at runtime unless specifically set in the constructor.
+	 * 
+	 * @var bool|null
+	 * @since 3.0.240
+	 * 
+	 */
+	protected $usesNumericKeys = null;
+
 	/**
 	 * Construct
 	 * 
 	 */
 	public function __construct() {
-		if($this->className() === 'WireArray') $this->duplicateChecking = false;
+		if($this->className() === 'WireArray') {
+			$this->duplicateChecking = false;
+			$this->indexedByName = false;
+			$this->usesNumericKeys = true;
+		}
 		parent::__construct();
 	}
 
@@ -296,7 +331,7 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 			$key = key($this->data);
 		}
 
-		$this->trackChange("add", null, $item); 
+		if($this->trackChanges) $this->trackChange("add", null, $item); 
 		$this->trackAdd($item, $key); 
 		
 		return $this;
@@ -461,7 +496,7 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 			throw new WireException("Key '$key' is not an allowed key for " . get_class($this));
 		}
 
-		$this->trackChange($key, isset($this->data[$key]) ? $this->data[$key] : null, $value); 
+		if($this->trackChanges) $this->trackChange($key, isset($this->data[$key]) ? $this->data[$key] : null, $value); 
 		$this->data[$key] = $value; 
 		$this->trackAdd($value, $key); 
 		return $this; 
@@ -602,7 +637,7 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 						if(isset($this->data[$k])) {
 							$match = $this->data[$k];
 						} else if($numericKeys) {
-							$match = $this->getItemThatMatches('name', $k);
+							$match = $this->getItemThatMatches($this->nameProperty, $k);
 						}
 						if($match) break;
 					}
@@ -613,7 +648,7 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 			// if the WireArray uses numeric keys, then it's okay to
 			// match a 'name' field if the provided key is a string
 			if($this->usesNumericKeys()) {
-				$match = $this->getItemThatMatches('name', $key);
+				$match = $this->getItemThatMatches($this->nameProperty, $key);
 			}
 		}
 		
@@ -760,7 +795,7 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 				$match = $this->findOne($key); 
 
 			} else if($this->usesNumericKeys()) {
-				$match = $this->getItemThatMatches('name', $key); 
+				$match = $this->getItemThatMatches($this->nameProperty, $key); 
 			}
 
 		} 
@@ -997,7 +1032,7 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 			reset($this->data);
 			$key = key($this->data);
 		}
-		$this->trackChange('prepend', null, $item); 
+		if($this->trackChanges) $this->trackChange('prepend', null, $item); 
 		$this->trackAdd($item, $key); 
 		return $this; 
 	}
@@ -1058,7 +1093,7 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 		$key = key($this->data);
 		$item = array_shift($this->data); 
 		if(is_null($item)) return null;
-		$this->trackChange('shift', $item, null);
+		if($this->trackChanges) $this->trackChange('shift', $item, null);
 		$this->trackRemove($item, $key); 
 		return $item; 
 	}
@@ -1094,7 +1129,7 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 		$key = key($this->data);
 		$item = array_pop($this->data); 
 		if(is_null($item)) return null;
-		$this->trackChange('pop', $item, null);
+		if($this->trackChanges) $this->trackChange('pop', $item, null);
 		$this->trackRemove($item, $key); 
 		return $item; 
 	}
@@ -1119,7 +1154,7 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 			$data[$key] = $this->data[$key]; 
 		}
 		
-		$this->trackChange('shuffle', $this->data, $data); 
+		if($this->trackChanges) $this->trackChange('shuffle', $this->data, $data); 
 
 		$this->data = $data; 
 
@@ -1219,7 +1254,7 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 		if(array_key_exists($key, $this->data)) {
 			$item = $this->data[$key];
 			unset($this->data[$key]); 
-			$this->trackChange("remove", $item, null); 
+			if($this->trackChanges) $this->trackChange("remove", $item, null); 
 			$this->trackRemove($item, $key); 
 		} else if(!$obj && is_string($key) && Selectors::stringHasSelector($key)) {
 			foreach($this->find($key) as $item) {
@@ -1329,6 +1364,13 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 		if(!$isArray) $properties = explode(',', $properties);
 		
 		if(empty($properties)) return $this;
+		
+		if($propertiesStr === $this->nameProperty && $this->indexedByName) {
+			// optimization when it's a very simple sort by name
+			ksort($this->data, $this->sortFlags);
+			if($this->trackChanges) $this->trackChange("sort:$propertiesStr");
+			return $this;
+		}
 
 		// shortcut for random (only allowed as the sole sort property)
 		// no warning/error for issuing more properties though
@@ -2000,7 +2042,20 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
  	 *
 	 */
 	protected function trackAdd($item, $key) {
-		if($key) {}
+		if($key !== null && $key !== false) {
+			if($this->usesNumericKeys === null) {
+				$this->usesNumericKeys = is_int($key);
+			}
+			if($this->indexedByName === null) {
+				$this->indexedByName = false;
+				if($item instanceof WireData) {
+					$name = $item->get($this->nameProperty);
+					if($name === $key && isset($this->data[$name]) && $this->data[$name] === $item) {
+						$this->indexedByName = true;
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
 		if($this->trackChanges()) $this->itemsAdded[] = $item;
 		// wire this WireArray to the same instance of $item, if it isn’t already wired
 		if($this->_wire === null && $item instanceof Wire && $item->isWired()) $item->wire($this);
@@ -2118,16 +2173,29 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 	 */
 	protected function usesNumericKeys() {
 
-		static $testItem = null;
-		static $usesNumericKeys = null; 
+		if($this->usesNumericKeys !== null) {
+			return $this->usesNumericKeys;
+		}
+		
+		if(!empty($this->data)) {
+			reset($this->data);
+			$key = key($this->data);
+			if($key !== null) {
+				$this->usesNumericKeys = is_int($key); 
+				return $this->usesNumericKeys;
+			}
+		}
+		
+		$testItem = $this->makeBlankItem();
+		
+		if($testItem === null) {
+			$this->usesNumericKeys = true;
+		} else {
+			$key = $this->getItemKey($testItem);
+			$this->usesNumericKeys = is_int($key);
+		}
 
-		if(!is_null($usesNumericKeys)) return $usesNumericKeys; 
-		if(is_null($testItem)) $testItem = $this->makeBlankItem(); 
-		if(is_null($testItem)) return true; 
-
-		$key = $this->getItemKey($testItem); 
-		$usesNumericKeys = is_int($key) ? true : false;
-		return $usesNumericKeys; 
+		return $this->usesNumericKeys; 
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -2552,7 +2620,7 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 			}
 		} else {
 			// array or string or null
-			if(is_null($func)) $func = 'name';
+			if(is_null($func)) $func = $this->nameProperty;
 			$result = $this->explode($func);
 		}
 	
@@ -2658,7 +2726,7 @@ class WireArray extends Wire implements \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess, \Count
 				$item = $item->debugInfoSmall();
 			} else if($item instanceof WireData) {
 				$_item = $item;
-				$item = $item->get('name');
+				$item = $item->get($this->nameProperty);
 				if(!$item) $item = $_item->get('id');
 				if(!$item) $item = $_item->className();
 			} else {