Let's break down the benchmark and explain what is being tested.

The benchmark is comparing two approaches to sorting an array of objects in JavaScript: using Lodash's sortBy function versus implementing a custom sorting function from scratch.

Lodash's sortBy Function

• Purpose: Lodash provides a utility function called sortBy that allows you to sort arrays of objects based on a specific key.
• Implementation: The sortBy function takes two arguments: the array of objects and the key to sort by. It uses a stable sorting algorithm (usually Timsort or Merge Sort) under the hood, which means it maintains the relative order of equal elements.

Custom Sorting Function

• Purpose: This approach implements a simple sorting function from scratch that compares two elements based on their values in the specified key.
• Implementation: The custom sorting function takes two arguments: a and b, which are the two elements to compare. It returns a negative value if a is less than b, zero if they are equal, or a positive value if a is greater than b. This is known as a "strict" comparison.

Pros and Cons

• Lodash's sortBy Function
  • Pros:
    • Faster execution times ( thanks to the optimized sorting algorithm)
    • More concise code
    • Less chance of errors due to its use of a stable sorting algorithm
  • Cons:
    • External dependency on Lodash (adds overhead for load time and potential compatibility issues)
    • Less control over the sorting process
• Custom Sorting Function
  • Pros:
    • No external dependencies or load times
    • More control over the sorting process
    • Potential for better performance due to a simpler implementation
  • Cons:
    • Slower execution times (due to the need for explicit comparisons)
    • Higher chance of errors if not implemented correctly

Other Considerations

• Stability: Both approaches are stable, meaning that equal elements will maintain their relative order.
• Performance: The Lodash approach is generally faster due to its optimized sorting algorithm. However, the custom approach may outperform it in certain cases where a simple comparison is sufficient.

Library and Special JS Feature

There are no specific libraries or special JavaScript features used in this benchmark beyond what's standard for both approaches (i.e., array sorting).

Alternative Approaches

Some alternative approaches to sorting arrays of objects include:

• Using Array.prototype.sort() with a custom compare function
• Using a library like Moment.js to sort dates
• Using a library like jQuery to sort DOM elements

However, the question is specifically asking about comparing _.sortBy from Lodash and native sorting functions.

In summary, this benchmark compares two approaches to sorting arrays of objects in JavaScript: using Lodash's sortBy function versus implementing a custom sorting function from scratch.