Originally, a benchmark was a surveying term. A land surveyor, when taking levels, required some fixed point or datum as a standard of height by which to regulate and verify measurements and operations. This basic point was indicated by a mark resembling a bench (in ordnance they took the form of a broad arrow), hence the term benchmark.
In later parlance benchmarks became understood as a relative measure of performance, often a standard or fixed value against which other data can be compared. In computing terms they are considered (by hackers) as an inaccurate measure of computer performance. 'In the computer industry, there are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and benchmarks.' Well-known ones include Whetstone, Dhrystone, Rhealstone, the GabrielLISP benchmarks, the SPECmark suite, and LINPACK. Research Benchmark
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
SciTech
Research Benchmark
