Let's break down what's being tested in this benchmark.

Benchmark Definition

The benchmark is comparing the performance of two methods: Date.now() and new Date(). Both methods are used to get the current timestamp, but they work slightly differently.

Options Compared

There are two options being compared:

1. Date.now(): This method returns the number of milliseconds since the Unix Epoch (January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC). It's a simple and efficient way to get the current timestamp.
2. new Date(): This method creates a new Date object and returns the number of milliseconds since the Unix Epoch as a property of that object. It also includes additional information like the date, time zone offset, etc.

Pros and Cons

• Date.now():
  • Pros: Fastest and most efficient way to get the current timestamp.
  • Cons: Doesn't include additional information like dates or time zones.
• new Date():
  • Pros: Includes additional information like dates, time zones, etc.
  • Cons: Slightly slower than Date.now(), especially for simple use cases.

Library and Purpose

Neither of these methods relies on a specific library. However, the JavaScript standard library itself provides both Date.now() and new Date() as built-in methods.

No special JS features or syntax are used in this benchmark.

Other Considerations

When choosing between Date.now() and new Date(), consider whether you need additional information beyond just the timestamp. If you only need a simple, fast way to get the current timestamp, Date.now() is likely sufficient. However, if you need more detailed information or want to take advantage of JavaScript's built-in date object features, new Date() might be a better choice.

Alternatives

If you're looking for alternative methods to compare the performance of different timestamp-related functions in JavaScript, here are some options:

1. performance.now(): This method returns the number of milliseconds since the performance timer was started, which can provide more accurate timing results than Date.now().
2. Date.now() + 0 or new Date() - new Date(0): These methods create a temporary date object that's immediately set to the current timestamp, providing similar performance characteristics to Date.now().

Keep in mind that these alternatives might introduce additional overhead or require more precise control over timing results.