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How to Time

Aaron Hillegass

1 min read

Nov 15, 2009

Mac

How to Time

I was asked three times last week how I find how long an activity takes on the Mac and the iPhone.  Here is the most accurate method that I know of:

#import <mach/mach_time.h>

uint64_t start = mach_absolute_time();

// do stuff to be timed

uint64_t end = mach_absolute_time();
uint64_t elapsed = end - start;

mach_timebase_info_data_t info;
if (mach_timebase_info (&info) != KERN_SUCCESS) {
    printf ("mach_timebase_info failedn");
}

uint64_t nanosecs = elapsed * info.numer / info.denom;
uint64_t millisecs = nanosecs / 1000000;

As you use this, remember that the elapsed time for a given function will vary with the load the system is under.

Zack Simon

Reviewer Big Nerd Ranch

Zack is an Experience Director on the Big Nerd Ranch design team and has worked on products for companies ranging from startups to Fortune 100s. Zack is passionate about customer experience strategy, helping designers grow in their career, and sharpening consulting and delivery practices.

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