I'd be happy to explain the benchmark being tested on MeasureThat.net.

Benchmark Definition

The benchmark is testing two different approaches in JavaScript: No return vs implicit void return. The script preparation code is empty, indicating that no additional setup or initialization code is needed for the test.

Options Compared

Two options are compared:

1. No Return: In this approach, the function say() returns undefined (or implicitly, since there's no explicit return statement). This means that when you call say(), it simply executes and does not provide a value that can be retrieved.
2. Implicit Void Return: Here, the function say() returns void, meaning that it doesn't explicitly return any value. However, due to how JavaScript handles functions with no explicit return statements, this also leads to an implicit return of undefined. This difference might seem minor, but as we'll see later, it can lead to performance variations.

Pros and Cons

• No Return (Implicit Void Return):

  • Pros: Can be beneficial for simplicity and readability when working with functions that don't need a specific value returned. However, since both options have an implicit return of undefined, this might not be the most meaningful distinction for performance testing.
  • Cons: Since there's no explicit return statement, it can lead to confusion in code analysis tools or debugging environments.

• Options Comparison:

  • Pros: Allows developers to understand and compare the performance impact of different JavaScript implementation details.
  • Cons: Could introduce unnecessary complexity for simple use cases, as the distinction between these two options might not be significant unless explicitly considered (like in this specific benchmark).

Library and Special Features

There are no libraries used in this benchmark.

Special JS Feature or Syntax

The test case uses Arrows functions, which were introduced in ECMAScript 2015. Arrows functions provide a concise syntax for defining small, one-time use functions without declaring them as full-fledged functions using the function keyword. This syntax has both advantages and disadvantages compared to traditional function definitions:

• Advantages:
  • Simpler syntax
  • Can be useful in certain situations where you only need a small, single-purpose function.
• Disadvantages:
  • Less control over function behavior (for example, capturing variables or creating closures).
  • Generally less compatible with older browsers.

Other Alternatives

If the benchmark were testing for performance differences in other JavaScript implementation details or features, alternatives might include:

1. Async vs Sync: Comparing code execution time when dealing with asynchronous versus synchronous operations.
2. ES Modules (Import/Export): Testing the overhead of importing and exporting modules compared to traditional script inclusion methods.

However, for this specific benchmark focusing on the distinction between no return statements versus implicit void returns in JavaScript functions, the provided setup is well-suited for the analysis at hand.