Basic TCP/IP server with indy!!!

hello...

I´m implementing a basic simple tcp ip server using the TIdTCPServer
component with some commands (within a bigger application).

The cuestion is that the the documentation that i've read always uses string
commands.

is this the tipical way to implement this kind of server.
wouldn´t it be much more efective to use bytes or integers or something like
that??. (well if the server isn't designed to be used with telnet).

thanksssssssss