Web Browser Javascript Benchmark
Introduction
How does your favorite browser's Javascript engine speed compare to other popular browsers? The speed of your browser's Javascript is becoming more and more important because of Web 2.0's reliance on Ajax and complex Javascript libraries. I have written a benchmark test, which you can run on your machine at home, to compare the newest versions of Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari, and Firefox. How does your favorite browser stand up to the competition?
Preface
In 2006, I originally wrote a Javascript speed test that is a derivation of the test that I use today. The test gained quite a bit of attention, so I created a subsequent test to compare browsers that had been released after the first test (i.e. Safari for Windows). Although dated, you may view the results from my first Javascript benchmark in 2006 and my second Javascript benchmark in 2007.
Due to popular demand in the form of a flurry of e-mails, I have decided to continue posting my test results with the newest versions of popular web browsers. All of my tests will be using my 2007 Javascript test script, which is available here, or by scrolling down to the bottom of this page. Rather than creating a separate page for each test cycle, I have decided to start archiving tests on this page.
Test Results
2008 March 28
| Web Browser | Average Runtime | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Safari 3.1 (525.13) | 339 | 1x (fastest) |
| Firefox 3.0.pre beta (safe mode) | 501 | 1.5x slower |
| Opera 9.50 beta (9841) | 517 | 1.5x slower |
| Firefox 3.0.pre beta (extensions disabled) | 538 | 1.6x slower |
| Opera 9.26 (8835) | 657 | 1.9x slower |
| IE8 Beta 1 | 933 | 2.8x slower |
| IE7 | 1099 | 3.2x slower |
| Firefox 2.0.0.13 (no extensions) | 1256 | 3.7x slower |
| Firefox 2.0.0.13 (safe mode) | 1373 | 4.1x slower |
| Firefox 2.0.0.13 (with extensions*) | 2416 | 7.1x slower |
| *Because most Firefox users install extensions, I thought that it was only fair to include a test with my own typical extensions. The extensions I had installed for the test include: Adblock Plus 0.7.5.3, ColorZilla 1.0, Download Statusbar 0.9.6.1, Firebug 1.05, Fission 0.9.5, Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer 2.0.45, and Hide Menubar 1.0.20080310. I did not include a test with the Firefox beta using extensions because the extensions are not considered compatible with the beta yet.
Beta versions of Firefox and Opera were downloaded from nightly builds that were available on 3/27/2008 |
||
| Commentary: In contrast to previous tests, Safari championed the fastest Javascript benchmark, overtaking Opera from its throne. Even more promising, the Firefox beta was considerably faster than its currently released version (2.0.0.13). This is the first test that has shown Firefox's Javascript engine to be superior to the engines of Opera and Internet Explorer. | ||
Archived Benchmark Results
2007 September 10
| Web Browser | Average Runtime | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Opera 9.50a | 615 | 1x (fastest) |
| Opera 9.23 | 695 | 1.1x slower |
| Safari 3.0.3 | 790 | 1.3x slower |
| IE7 | 1077 | 1.8x slower |
| IE7 (no add-ons) | 1090 | 1.8x slower |
| Firefox 2.0.0.6 (safe mode) | 1385 | 2.3x slower |
| Firefox 2.0.0.6 | 2285 | 3.7x slower |
| Firefox 3.0.0.7a (safe mode) | 2465 | 4.0x slower |
| Firefox 3.0.0.7a | 2722 | 4.4x slower |
| For more information, see the 2007 benchmark test page. | ||
| Commentary: This test was done in response to Apple's release of Safari for Windows. Similarly to the 2006 test, Firefox was considerably slower than Opera, Safari, and Internet Explorer. Note that the Firefox alpha version was slower than the stable version. | ||
2006 August 2
| Web Browser | Average Runtime | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Opera 9.0 | 422 | 1x (fastest) |
| IE6 (SP2) | 1622 | 3.8x slower |
| Firefox 1.5 (safe mode) | 1752 | 4.2x slower |
| Firefox 1.5 | 1974 | 4.7x slower |
| For more information, see the 2006 benchmark test page. | ||
| Commentary: This test was one of the first, documented Javascript benchmarks to show the superiority of Opera over the more popular Firefox. | ||
Technical Notes
- The numerical score generated by this test is relative -- that separate test results, run at different times or on different machines, cannot be directly compared to each other. You may only compare multiple browsers within the same test session with the same test environment.
- My results for each browser are averages -- to get a browser's score, I have run each test ten times, and taken the average score from all ten tests.
- Your raw numbers are not comparable to mine -- because the raw numbers are relative, you can only compare one browser to another browser on your own machine. I have included the Javascript benchmark test below so that you can perform your own test. I encourage you to use it to generate your own comparative test, and even examine the Javascript code to examine the test itself.
- I have included alpha, beta, and released versions -- I have included browser versions that are still in testing just for comparative purposes. Please realize that a browser's beta performance does not necessarily reflect its future, release performance.
- Do your own testing - your results may vary! -- I may have a different operating system, hardware configuration, and development environment than you, so your results may be different! I highly encourage you to do your own testing and see which browser is the best performer on within your own environment.
The Test
| Test Type | Runtime (ms) |
| Array object | |
| Date object | |
| Error handling | |
| Math object | |
| RegEx object | |
| String object | |
| DOM | |
| Ajax declarations | |
| Total Duration | |
