Benchmark: Math.max vs. if vs. ternary

Script Preparation code:

this.number = Math.random() * 1000;

Tests:

Math.max
return this.number < 500 ? 500 : this.number;
If
if (this.number < 500) { return 500; } return this.number;
Ternary
return this.number < 500 ? 500 : this.number;

Rendered benchmark preparation results:

Suite status: <idle, ready to run>

Previous results

Test case name	Result
Math.max
If
Ternary

Fastest: N/A

Slowest: N/A

Latest run results:

Run details: (Test run date: one month ago)

User agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/131.0.0.0 Safari/537.36

Browser/OS: Chrome 131 on Windows

View result in a separate tab

Test name	Executions per second
Math.max	42686780.0 Ops/sec
If	42205732.0 Ops/sec
Ternary	41814468.0 Ops/sec

Autogenerated LLM Summary (model llama3.2:3b, generated 2 months ago):

LLMs can make mistakes. Check important info.

Let's break down the JavaScript microbenchmark provided by MeasureThat.net.

**Benchmark Definition**

The benchmark is designed to compare three different ways of writing a simple conditional expression: using `Math.max`, an `if` statement, and a ternary operator (`?:`). The idea is to measure which approach is faster in terms of execution speed.

**Script Preparation Code**

The script preparation code initializes a random number between 0 and 1000 on the object `this`. This variable will be used throughout the benchmarking process.

**Html Preparation Code**

There is no HTML preparation code provided, which means that the browser's rendering engine and DOM manipulation overhead are not included in the benchmark results.

**Test Cases**

The test cases are defined as an array of objects, each representing a specific benchmark:

1. `Math.max`: uses the `Math.max` function to return 500 if the random number is less than 500.
2. `If`: uses a traditional `if` statement with an `return` statement inside the condition.
3. `Ternary`: uses a ternary operator (`?:`) to concisely express the same conditional logic as the `Math.max` version.

**Library and Features**

None of the test cases use any external libraries or special JavaScript features (such as async/await, Promises, or modern syntax like classes or destructuring).

**Options Compared**

The benchmark compares three different approaches:

1. **Ternary Operator (`?:`)**: a concise way to express simple conditional logic.
2. **Traditional `if` Statement**: a more verbose but still effective approach for complex conditions.
3. **`Math.max` Function**: uses the built-in `max` function from the Math object.

**Pros and Cons**

Here's a brief summary of each approach:

* **Ternary Operator (`?:`) Pros: concise, readable, and easy to understand. Cons: may be less efficient for complex conditions.
* **Traditional `if` Statement**: Pros: flexible, easy to read, and works well for complex logic. Cons: can be verbose and repetitive.
* **`Math.max` Function**: Pros: uses the built-in `max` function, which is optimized for performance. Cons: may require an additional import or use of a specific Math object.

**Considerations**

When choosing between these approaches, consider the following factors:

* Readability: if code readability is crucial, the ternary operator or traditional `if` statement might be a better choice.
* Performance: if speed is critical, using the built-in `Math.max` function could provide a slight performance advantage.
* Complexity: for simple conditions, any of these approaches can work well. For more complex logic, the traditional `if` statement might be a better fit.

**Other Alternatives**

If you're looking for alternative approaches to conditional expressions in JavaScript, consider:

* Using arrow functions (`=>`) or functions literals instead of traditional `function` declarations.
* Employing the nullish coalescing operator (`??`) or logical OR (`||`) for simple conditional logic.
* Leveraging built-in functions like `Number()` or `String()` for type coercion and string manipulation.

Keep in mind that these alternatives might not be directly comparable to the original benchmark, as they have different use cases and performance characteristics.

Related benchmarks:

Math.max vs. if vs. ternary (version: 0)

Comparing performance of: Math.max vs If vs Ternary

Created: 3 years ago by: Guest

Jump to the latest result

Math.max

If

Ternary

Suite status: <idle, ready to run>

Experimental features:

Fastest: N/A

Slowest: N/A

Autogenerated LLM Summary (model llama3.2:3b, generated 2 months ago):