Browser speed test

A browser speed test is a computer benchmark that scores the performance of a web browser, by measuring the browser's efficiency in completing a predefined list of tasks. In general the testing software is available online, located on a website, where different algorithms are loaded and performed in the browser client. Typical test tasks are rendering and animation, DOM transformations, string operations, mathematical calculations, sorting algorithms, graphic performance tests and memory instructions. Browser speed tests have been used during browser wars to prove superiority of specific web browsers. The popular Acid3 test is no particular speed test but checks browser conformity to web standards (though it checks whether a general performance goal is met or not).

General tests

Peacekeeper

Online speed test by Futuremark, mainly using rendering, mathematical and memory operations. Takes approx. 5 minutes for execution and tells results of other browsers with different CPUs. Does not respect operating system.

Speed-Battle

Test of JavaScript engine using simple algorithms. Displays results of other visitors (best, average, poorest) with same operating system and browser version. Additional statistics page with browser ranking.

Testdrive

Microsoft maintains a suite of performance-oriented tests, often designed to test and stress JavaScript and rendering performance. These tests are typically designed to highlight IE's performance, but are compatible with other major browsers.

Browsermark

Online speed test by Rightware, mainly using rendering, mathematical and memory operations. Takes approx. 4 minutes for execution and tells results compared to other browsers and operating systems.

3D tests

Wirple BMark

Performance test for HTML5 3D applications. Tests performance in both Canvas3D and WebGL.

Developer suites

Benchmark.js

A robust benchmarking library that works on nearly all JavaScript platforms, supports high-resolution timers, and returns statistically significant results.

Dromaeo

Mozilla test suite based on SunSpider tests. Takes several minutes for execution and displays very detailed information about every single test task.

ECMAScript Test 262

ECMA International is a standardization authority for JavaScript. test262 is a benchmark that composes enormous number of individual tests to test the conformance. The individual test in this suit is developed by member organizations of TC39, the technical committee tasked with standardization of the ECMAScript programming language.[1] Currently test262 suite comprises 10,000+ tests and yet under more tests are scheduled to be included in future.[2]

GUIMark 2

Tests vector, bitmap, and text rendering for both Adobe Flash and HTML5.

JetStream

A JavaScript test suite developed by Apple.[3]

JSLitmus

Tests JavaScript speed.

Kraken

Another JavaScript test suite from Mozilla, released September 14, 2010.[4]

Octane

Google's JavaScript test suite which replaces the V8 benchmark. According to Google, "Octane v.1 consists of 13 tests, 5 new ones and 8 from the original V8 Benchmark Suite."[5] Octane v.2 supplanted v.1, consisting of "17 tests, four more than Octane v1."[6]

SunSpider

SunSpider is a benchmark suite that aims to measure JavaScript performance on tasks relevant to the current and near future use of JavaScript in the real world, such as encryption and text manipulation.[7] The suite further attempts to be balanced and statistically sound.[8]

Version 0.9 was released by the WebKit team in December 2007.[9] It was well received,[10] and other browser developers also use it to compare the JavaScript performance of different browsers.[11]

Version 0.9.1 was released in April 2010.[12]

Version 1.0 was released in April 2013.[13]

V8

JavaScript test suite by Google, used to optimize Google Chrome web browser. Does not test rendering performance. Superseded by Google's Octane benchmark.

Criticism

All browser tests deliver different results depending on the type and structure of testing and the focus of their measurement, though the tendency of results seems always to be the same. JavaScript and JavaScript engine speed in general are not the only criteria to evaluate the speed of a browser. Loading and rendering speed for a specific website via the Internet, memory consumption, hard disk storage consumption, start-up speed and so on should also be considered to rate the performance of a browser but are normally not included in online browser speed tests.

References

  1. "ISO/IEC and Ecma International ratify "ES5.1", the latest ECMAScript specification of Ecma International" (Press release). ECMA International. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013 via Reuters.
  2. "What is the status of test262?". ECMA International. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  3. Heath, Nick (21 May 2015). "Windows 10 and Edge: How Microsoft's new browser could soon challenge Chrome". TechRepublic (California, USA). Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  4. Jostedt, Erica (14 September 2010). "Release the Kraken". The Mozilla Blog (blog). Mozilla. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  5. "The Benchmark—Octane". Google Developers. 22 August 2012. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  6. "The Benchmark—Octane". Google Developers. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  7. Muchmore, Michael (18 June 2008). "Review: Firefox 3 Stays Ahead of Browser Pack". PC Mag. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2008 via Fox News.
  8. "SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark". WebKit Open Source Project. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  9. Stachowiak, Maciej (18 December 2007). "Announcing SunSpider 0.9" (blog). WebKit Open Source Project. Retrieved 6 September 2008.
  10. Atwood, Jeff (19 December 2007). "The Great Browser JavaScript Showdown". Coding Horror (blog). Retrieved 6 September 2008.
  11. Resig, John (3 September 2008). "JavaScript Performance Rundown". ejohn.org (blog). Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  12. Stachowiak, Maciej (7 April 2010). "Announcing SunSpider 0.9.1". Surfin' Safari (blog). WebKit Open Source Project. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  13. Stachowiak, Maciej (7 April 2010). "Announcing SunSpider 1.0". Surfin’ Safari. WebKit Open Source Project. Retrieved 29 April 2013.

External links

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