Profiling (computer programming): Difference between revisions

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In [[software engineering]], '''profiling''' ("program profiling", "software profiling") is a form of [[dynamic program analysis]] that measures, for example, the space (memory) or time [[Computational complexity theory|time complexity of a program]], the [[instruction set simulator|usage of particular instructions]], or the frequency and duration of function calls. Most commonly, profiling information serves to aid program [[optimization (computer science)|optimization]].

Profiling is achieved by [[Instrumentation (computer programming)|instrumenting]] either the program [[source code]] or its binary executable form using a tool called a ''profiler'' (or ''code profiler''). Profilers may use a number of different techniques, such as event-based, statistical, instrumented, and simulation methods.