Let's break down the provided JSON and benchmarking code to understand what is being tested.

Overview

The MeasureThat.net website allows users to create and run JavaScript microbenchmarks. The provided benchmark compares three approaches for searching an array of strings: indexOf, includes, and a custom implementation using the lodash library.

Script Preparation Code

The script preparation code creates an array array with three elements: 'banana', 'sausage', and 'jesus'.

var array = ['banana', 'sausage', 'jesus'];

Html Preparation Code

The HTML preparation code includes a reference to the lodash.js library, which is used in one of the test cases.

<script src='https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/lodash.js/4.17.5/lodash.min.js'></script>

Individual Test Cases

There are three test cases:

1. IndexOf: Tests if indexOf('sausage') returns 1.
2. Includes: Tests if includes('sausage') returns a boolean value (true or false).
3. lodash: Tests if _.indexOf(array, 'sausage') !== 1 using the lodash library.

What is tested

The benchmark tests the performance of each approach:

• indexOf: The native JavaScript method for finding the index of an element in an array.
• includes: A built-in JavaScript method that checks if an array contains a specified value.
• _.indexOf: A method from the lodash library that performs the same operation as indexOf.

Options compared

The benchmark compares two approaches:

1. Native JavaScript methods (indexOf and includes)
2. The lodash library's _.indexOf method

Pros and Cons of each approach

• Native JavaScript methods (indexOf, includes):
  • Pros: Built-in functions with minimal overhead.
  • Cons: May not be as efficient for large arrays or specific use cases, as they can create unnecessary iterations.
• lodash.indexOf:
  • Pros: Customizable, potentially more efficient than native methods in some scenarios. Can provide additional features like handling null/undefined values and custom search functions.
  • Cons: Introduces an extra dependency (the lodash library) and may have a slight performance overhead due to the added function call.

Special considerations

• The benchmark does not explicitly use any special JavaScript features or syntax, as it focuses on the core functionality of each approach.
• It's essential to note that the actual performance differences between these methods can be affected by various factors like array size, iteration complexity, and platform-specific optimizations.