Let's dive into the world of JavaScript microbenchmarks on MeasureThat.net.

Benchmark Overview

The benchmark compares the performance of three template rendering libraries: Handlebars, Hogan, and Mustache. The test case uses the same template string, which is defined in the Script Preparation Code section of the benchmark definition JSON. The task is to compile this template string into a renderable format using each library.

Template Rendering Libraries

1. Handlebars: A popular JavaScript templating engine that allows developers to create dynamic web pages by separating presentation from application logic. Handlebars uses a syntax similar to HTML, but with additional features like expressions and conditionals.
2. Hogan: Another template rendering library that aims to provide high performance and flexibility. Hogan is designed to be faster than traditional templating engines like Handlebars.
3. Mustache: A lightweight JavaScript templating engine that uses a syntax called "handlebars" (similar to Handlebars). Mustache is known for its simplicity and ease of use.

Comparison Options

The benchmark compares the performance of each library by executing their respective compile or parse methods on the same template string. The execution time is measured in executions per second, which represents how many times the template is rendered within a given timeframe.

Pros and Cons

Here's a brief summary of the pros and cons for each library:

• Handlebars:
  • Pros: Wide adoption, extensive community support, and a comprehensive feature set.
  • Cons: Can be slower than Hogan due to its more complex rendering process.
• Hogan:
  • Pros: High performance, optimized for speed, and easy to use.
  • Cons: Smaller community compared to Handlebars, which might limit its flexibility.
• Mustache:
  • Pros: Lightweight, simple, and fast.
  • Cons: Limited feature set compared to Handlebars and Hogan.

Other Considerations

When choosing a template rendering library, consider the following factors:

• Complexity: If you need to render complex templates with many conditionals or expressions, Handlebars might be a better choice. For simpler templates, Mustache could be sufficient.
• Performance: If speed is crucial for your application, Hogan might be the best option due to its optimized rendering process.
• Community Support: If you prefer a well-established community and a wide range of resources, Handlebars is likely the way to go.

Latest Benchmark Results

The latest benchmark results show that:

• Handlebars performs the fastest with an average execution time of 3680275.25 executions per second.
• Hogan comes in second with an average execution time of 1555071.125 executions per second.
• Mustache is the slowest with an average execution time of 1787664.625 executions per second.

Keep in mind that these results are specific to this particular template and may vary for other use cases.

Other Alternatives

If you're interested in exploring alternative template rendering libraries, consider:

• Underscore.js: A popular JavaScript library that provides utility functions, including templating helpers.
• Pug.js: A fast and flexible templating engine that compiles to plain JavaScript.
• EJS (Embedded JavaScript): A traditional server-side templating engine that's widely used in Node.js applications.