pretext.lab

Research lab · Open source

Measuring the cost of text layout in the browser.


A public benchmarking lab for JavaScript text-layout strategies — DOM, Canvas, Pretext.js — measured across browser engines with rigorous methodology and reproducible numbers.

Experiments

1 published · more in progress


Experiment 01 · Published May 2026

Single measurement across DOM, Canvas, Pretext

4 input sizes · 3 browsers · methodology

"DOM measurement ranking inverts between input sizes. WebKit 2.7× faster than Blink at 5000 chars; Blink 4× faster at 10 chars."

Experiment 02 · In progress

Bulk measurement amortization

How per-paragraph cost changes as N grows — and where Pretext crosses below DOM and Canvas.

How per-paragraph cost changes as N grows — and where Pretext crosses below DOM and Canvas.

[ in progress ]