Ever since I started using Google Chrome, I have been very impressed with its speed. I wondered what it is about this web browser that makes it as fast and efficient as it is. I decided to do some research on what makes it faster than other browsers that I have used. I have read some explanations of the design decisions that make it stand out, and some of these explanations are better than others. After my positive review of A Stick Figure Guide to the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), some may not be surprised to find that I consider the best explanation of what makes Google Chrome fast and efficient to be in the form of a comic book.
After I read about what makes Google Chrome faster than other browsers, I have found that a few points tend to be mentioned consistently. It is often said that its use of the Webkit open source web browser layout engine and the open source JavaScript engine known as V8 set it apart. What it is about Webkit and V8 that make Google Chrome faster and more efficient is mentioned in a number of different places. And these explanations appear in a number of different forms, such as this video in which Lars Bak, the head programmer of the V8 project, explains the concepts behind V8.
Some might consider the explanation in that video useful. Others, who do not have as much knowledge of the topics that Bak explains, would prefer explanations that they would be more likely to understand. I personally wanted a thorough and complete explanation of what makes Google Chrome as fast and efficient as it is. What I had not realized was that I needed to look no further than the page on Google that lists its features for the link to the information that I wanted to find. This information may have been there for a long time, although it seems to continue to be the best introductory guide to the technology that makes Google Chrome different.
It seemed to be appropriate that the best guide to Google Chrome’s features came from those employed at Google. The differences in its user interface, security handling, and performance are covered in it. In this post, I will only focus on Google Chrome’s speed and efficiency. I may cover the user interface and security design decisions in a different post about Google Chrome. If I do, I may once again refer to this comic.
There is a section on Webkit and V8 in that comic in which important concepts about V8 are explained well. Webkit, which is also used by Safari, is said to manage memory well. It is said that Google Chrome is designed for the world wide web of today rather than the one that existed when browsers were first written. That is the reason it was said to be important that its JavaScript engine be efficient, considering how often JavaScript is used in web applications. The concept of hidden classes is covered well, and it is covered in enough detail for its intended audience to understand the basics of it. Those who would like a more detailed explanation of this concept may see it explained in further detail here. Also, it is mentioned that JavaScript is compiled into machine code when V8 is used. As those familiar with advantages of compiled code over code that is interpreted as JavaScript typically is, this can lead to a significant performance increase. Also, as hidden classes are created, the machine code can refer to these hidden classes, which leads to better performance. In addition, V8’s method of garbage collection is very efficient, and it is explained how memory is managed much more efficiently than it is in other JavaScript engines.
The explanations in this comic seem to be aimed at an audience that has some knowledge of the concepts explained in it. I thought that those who want to know more about this technology would find it understandable and entertaining. Some might also understand jokes in it, such as the “speed limit” depicted on this panel as being 10100, also known as a googol. Some might like this comic, some might not. For those who prefer to view a video that covers some of the same material, but in less depth, there is this video.
Some may find my recent praise for comics interesting. Some might also find it interesting that I am praising Google Chrome after writing much here about Firefox. I still use Firefox quite often, mostly because of its extensions. However, when I want to use a browser that is simple, fast, and efficient, I use Google Chrome.