Benchmark: Set.toArray vs Spread

Tests:

toArray
var fooSet = new Set(); for(var i=0;i<100;i++) { fooSet.add(i); } var other = fooSet.values().toArray();
Spread
var fooSet = new Set(); for(var i=0;i<100;i++) { fooSet.add(i); } var other = [...fooSet];

Rendered benchmark preparation results:

Suite status: <idle, ready to run>

Previous results

Test case name	Result
toArray
Spread

Fastest: N/A

Slowest: N/A

Latest run results:

Run details: (Test run date: 21 days ago)

User agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10.15; rv:137.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/137.0

Browser/OS: Firefox 137 on Mac OS X 10.15

View result in a separate tab

Test name	Executions per second
toArray	578748.8 Ops/sec
Spread	532813.8 Ops/sec

Autogenerated LLM Summary (model gpt-4o-mini, generated 20 days ago):

LLMs can make mistakes. Check important info.

The benchmark titled "Set.toArray vs Spread" evaluates two different methods for converting a `Set` object into an array in JavaScript. The two methods being compared are:

1. **Using the `Set.prototype.values()` method followed by calling `toArray()`.**
2. **Using the spread syntax `[...]` to convert the `Set` directly into an array.**

### Comparison of Options

1. **`Set.prototype.values().toArray()`**
   - **Pros**:
     - Clear intention: This method explicitly retrieves the values of the `Set`, making it clear that you are working with the elements of the `Set`.
   - **Cons**:
     - Requires an additional step of converting the iterable returned by `values()` into an array, which may add overhead.
     - The `.toArray()` method does not exist in standard JavaScript; this indicates a potential implementation that isn't widely recognized or is specific to certain contexts. If it does exist as part of a custom library or utility, it may not be available in all environments.

2. **Spread Syntax `[...fooSet]`**
   - **Pros**:
     - Concise syntax: The spread operator provides a succinct and readable way to convert an iterable to an array.
     - Built-in feature: The spread syntax is a part of standard JavaScript (ES6+) and thus widely supported and recognized across different environments, which ensures compatibility.
   - **Cons**:
     - None significant: The spread operator generally performs well and is recognized as an optimal way to construct arrays from iterable objects.

### Library Considerations

In this benchmark, the `values()` method of the `Set` object is part of the ECMAScript standard and does not require any external libraries. However, the use of `.toArray()` suggests either a custom method or an experimental feature that may require a specific library or polyfill if not defined. As of the latest standards, JavaScript does not natively provide a `.toArray()` method for iterables.

### Special JavaScript Features Used

The benchmark uses:
- **Spread syntax (`[...]`)**: This is a prominent feature introduced in ES6 (ECMAScript 2015) that allows iterables (like arrays and sets) to be expanded into individual elements. The syntax increases code readability and expressiveness while maintaining performance.

### Alternatives

While the benchmark focuses on two specific methods for converting `Sets` to arrays, there are other alternatives in JavaScript, including:

- **Array.from()**: This method can convert array-like or iterable objects into arrays:
  ```javascript
  var arrayUsingArrayFrom = Array.from(fooSet);
  ```
   - Pros: This method is inherently built into JavaScript and easily readable.
   - Cons: May perform slightly slower than using spread syntax in some scenarios, depending on the JavaScript engine.

- **Looping through `Set`**: You could also manually loop through the `Set` and push each value into an array:
  ```javascript
  var arrayFromLoop = [];
  for (const item of fooSet) {
    arrayFromLoop.push(item);
  }
  ```
   - Pros: Very flexible and customizable.
   - Cons: More verbose and error-prone than built-in methods.

In conclusion, this benchmark provides insights into the performance of two common ways of converting a `Set` to an array in JavaScript. The spread syntax is generally preferred due to its conciseness, clarity, and widespread support, while the alternative method of using an undefined `.toArray()` is noteworthy for its potential limitations and dependency on external implementations.

Related benchmarks:

Set.toArray vs Spread (version: 1)

Comparing performance of: toArray vs Spread

Created: 21 days ago by: Guest

Jump to the latest result

toArray

Spread

Suite status: <idle, ready to run>

Experimental features:

Fastest: N/A

Slowest: N/A

Autogenerated LLM Summary (model gpt-4o-mini, generated 20 days ago):