Overview

The MeasureThat.net benchmark measures the performance of three approaches for setting data attributes or classes on an HTML element: className, setAttribute, and classList. The benchmark is designed to evaluate which approach is the fastest.

Benchmark Definition

The benchmark definition specifies that we have a single HTML element (<div id="foo"></div>) and perform an operation (setting a class) 1000 times in a loop. The three approaches are:

1. className: Setting the className attribute directly.
2. setAttribute: Using the setAttribute method to set the data-state attribute with a value of "active".
3. classList: Using the classList property to add the is-active class.

Options Compared

The three options are compared in terms of their performance, measured by the number of executions per second (ExecutionsPerSecond). The option with the highest value is considered the fastest.

Pros and Cons of Each Approach

1. className: This approach is simple and easy to read. However, it may not be as efficient as other approaches since it involves a string concatenation.
2. setAttribute: This approach is more efficient than className because it avoids string concatenation. However, it requires using the setAttribute method, which may add overhead due to function call and argument passing.
3. classList: This approach uses a more modern and efficient way of setting classes on an element. It's likely to be faster than className since it involves a direct property access and doesn't require string concatenation.

Library Used

None, as this is a built-in JavaScript feature.

Special JS Feature or Syntax

The benchmark uses the classList property, which is a modern JavaScript feature introduced in HTML5. It allows developers to easily manage classes on an element without needing to concatenate strings or use other workarounds.

Other Considerations

• The benchmark uses a simple loop with 1000 iterations, which may not be representative of real-world scenarios where loops are more complex.
• The benchmark assumes that the data-state attribute is set in isolation from other attributes. In reality, attribute values can interact with each other and affect performance.
• The benchmark only measures performance for setting a single class. In practice, you may need to consider performance when adding multiple classes or using other approaches like CSS classes.

Alternatives

Other alternatives to the three options compared include:

1. Using style property: Setting a CSS style directly on the element can be faster than using className or setAttribute. However, it requires more code and may not provide the same level of flexibility.
2. Using a library like jQuery: Libraries like jQuery provide methods for setting classes that are optimized for performance. However, they add an additional dependency and may require more learning and setup.

In conclusion, while there's no single "best" approach, classList is likely to be the fastest option due to its direct property access and efficient use of modern JavaScript features.