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A benchmark measures a stable workload; a profiler explains where its time or allocations go. Change one variable, protect against optimized-away work, and compare distributions rather than one lucky run.
A benchmark asks how a specific workload behaves under controlled conditions. A profiler asks where time, allocations, or waits occur during that workload. Start with a question that matters to a user, such as median parse latency for a typical file or worst-case response time for a large project. Use a release build, warm up when appropriate, and keep input, hardware, and environment stable between comparisons. One Instant measurement is useful for a quick observation but too noisy to settle a small optimization.
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