BenchmarkDotNet is a .NET library for benchmarking that transforms methods into performance benchmarks, tracks their results, and enables reproducible measurement experiments.
The tool addresses the challenge of measuring .NET code performance accurately by automating much of the work that would otherwise fall to developers. It handles the low-level details of reliable benchmarking: running code multiple times under controlled conditions, managing different runtime environments, and applying statistical analysis through its integrated perfolizer and pragmastat statistical engines. The library warns developers when benchmark design is flawed or measurements appear unreliable, protecting against common pitfalls in performance testing.
Developers should adopt this tool if they need to measure and track performance changes in .NET codebases. It suits projects ranging from small performance investigations to comprehensive performance regression testing across multiple runtimes and platforms. The tool supports .NET 5+, .NET Framework 4.6.1+, .NET Core 2.0+, Mono, and NativeAOT, running on Windows, Linux, and macOS across x86, x64, ARM, ARM64, Wasm, and LoongArch64 architectures. It works with C#, F#, and Visual Basic. Results can be exported to multiple formats including markdown, HTML, CSV, XML, and JSON, with support for generating plots alongside tabular summaries.
The project maintains active engagement with its user base through comprehensive documentation and a getting-started guide designed for developers without deep performance engineering expertise. Development activity shows consistent attention to both new capabilities and the reliability of existing features, with the codebase demonstrating careful handling of the statistical and measurement concerns central to benchmarking work. The tool has achieved adoption across major .NET projects including the .NET Runtime, .NET Compiler, and .NET Performance repositories, indicating sustained confidence in its approach and results.
