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Every number here names the work category. That is the only honest way to compare speed.

You want the headline numbers, but you also want to know what each number is allowed to mean.
Number

The value and unit from the claim row.

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Category

The work shape that makes the row comparable.

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Non-claim

The work this number must not be used to imply.

Before a number is quoted, its row should trace back to the Claim ledger.
Warm local readThe data is local and warm, so Bitfield can read known local bytes without sending a request to a separate database process.
Content address lookupBitfield first resolves the data fingerprint, then reads the bytes.
Batched write ceilingThe optimized write path divided across a full batch. Useful as a ceiling, not the same as every saved-write comparison.
Durable batch write comparisonA conservative saved-write comparison that includes more of the durable write contract.

What these numbers do not say

  • They do not say cold storage is sub-nanosecond.
  • They do not say the internet has zero cost.
  • They do not say every database benchmark measures the same job.
  • They do not say one isolated write and a full batch have the same wall-clock shape.
For the field-level contract behind each row, read the claim ledger.

Claim envelopes

Each envelope is the full public shape of the claim. Quote the envelope, not just the number.
Claim IDPublic valueMeasured jobPublic mechanism categorySafe comparisonDo not compare withNon-claims
h0-warm-local-read0.68 nanoseconds per readwarm-local-readmemory-mapped-local-read, content-addressed-storageOther warm local reads where the needed bytes are already available locallyCold disk reads, networked database queries, unrelated benchmark jobsNot a cold disk read; not a disappearing network trip; not proof that every database benchmark measures the same job
h1-hash-lookup91.7 nanoseconds per lookupcontent-address-lookupcontent-addressed-storageOther local content identity lookup pathsExact-position reads with no lookup step, networked app latencyNot the same category as the H0 exact read; not networked application latency
durable-batch-write-8190316 nanoseconds per written itemdurable-batch-writedurable-append-pathOther saved batch writes with a similar durability boundaryOne isolated network write, vendor rows that include different durability or network workNot every isolated write wall-clock latency; not the same category as a networked managed database write
current-batched-write-ceiling0.59 nanoseconds per written itembatched-write-ceilingdurable-append-pathOther optimized full-batch ceiling rowsEvery saved write path, every vendor write benchmarkNot every full saved write; not a universal write comparison row

How to use a row in copy

Use this shape:
Bitfield measured <value> <unit> for <category>. That row is about <mechanism category>. It does not claim <main non-claim>.
Do not use this shape:
Bitfield is <value> fast.
The second version removes the measured job. Once the measured job is gone, the number becomes easier to misuse.

Common failures

FailureWhy it is wrongFix
Quoting only the numberThe category disappearsQuote number plus category
Removing non-claimsThe claim gets overreadKeep the boundary sentence with the row
Comparing batch ceiling to every writeCeiling is not every writeUse the durable batch row for saved-write comparisons
Adding a number not in the ledgerThe public source of truth splitsAdd the claim-ledger row first

Next

Read Measurement methodology, then Proof objections.
Last modified on May 10, 2026