btf: Optimize string table for globally increasing offsets

After doing some observations while parsing VMLinux, it seems that the lookup access pattern for strings is mostly globally increasing with with some patches of seemingly unpridicable offsets. This is a sample of the access pattern, numbers are the index into the string table, not the offset: ``` 1112 1113 1114 348 78 1115 1116 372 1117 1118 1119 ``` This commit adds logic to track this globally increasing offset and checks if the if the offset at the next expected index matches the offset we are looking for. If it does, we can skip the binary search. In VMLinux this fast path is taken about 50% of the time, resulting in about a 7% speedup. ``` goos: linux goarch: amd64 pkg: github.com/cilium/ebpf/btf cpu: 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11800H @ 2.30GHz │ before.txt │ after.txt │ │ sec/op │ sec/op vs base │ ParseVmlinux-16 48.52m ± 1% 44.79m ± 1% -7.69% (n=100) │ before.txt │ after.txt │ │ B/op │ B/op vs base │ ParseVmlinux-16 31.45Mi ± 0% 31.45Mi ± 0% ~ (p=0.127 n=100) │ before.txt │ after.txt │ │ allocs/op │ allocs/op vs base │ ParseVmlinux-16 534.1k ± 0% 534.1k ± 0% ~ (p=0.130 n=100) ``` Signed-off-by: Dylan Reimerink <dylan.reimerink@isovalent.com>
cilium · Nov 7, 2023 · 406033c · 406033c
1 parent c2563e4
commit 406033c
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Showing 4 changed files with 228 additions and 2 deletions.
diff --git a/after.txt b/after.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+goos: linux
+goarch: amd64
+pkg: github.com/cilium/ebpf/btf
+cpu: 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11800H @ 2.30GHz
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  44817383 ns/op	32982536 B/op	  534118 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  45508467 ns/op	32982224 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      20	  54620586 ns/op	32982124 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  46894367 ns/op	32981369 B/op	  534111 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  47183201 ns/op	32982447 B/op	  534117 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  51842534 ns/op	32981816 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  48260093 ns/op	32982700 B/op	  534118 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  43829817 ns/op	32982333 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  44552526 ns/op	32982255 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  46296633 ns/op	32983716 B/op	  534124 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  44302463 ns/op	32981980 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  44682541 ns/op	32983894 B/op	  534125 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  44228117 ns/op	32983408 B/op	  534122 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  45236327 ns/op	32982346 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      27	  45684247 ns/op	32981349 B/op	  534111 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  43867362 ns/op	32983311 B/op	  534122 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  43364671 ns/op	32981785 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  43528356 ns/op	32982875 B/op	  534119 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  45503575 ns/op	32980311 B/op	  534105 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  44361513 ns/op	32981648 B/op	  534112 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  42723647 ns/op	32982220 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  42939832 ns/op	32982877 B/op	  534119 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  46757925 ns/op	32981976 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  44386557 ns/op	32983212 B/op	  534121 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  43319490 ns/op	32983260 B/op	  534121 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  45295333 ns/op	32982055 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  44733039 ns/op	32981441 B/op	  534111 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  42724040 ns/op	32983355 B/op	  534122 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  43372800 ns/op	32982672 B/op	  534118 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  44071058 ns/op	32980822 B/op	  534108 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  44410268 ns/op	32982041 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  43289173 ns/op	32982768 B/op	  534119 allocs/op
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+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  44983846 ns/op	32982986 B/op	  534120 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  44582011 ns/op	32981718 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  46079420 ns/op	32980611 B/op	  534106 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  44971304 ns/op	32980791 B/op	  534107 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  45415841 ns/op	32982555 B/op	  534117 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  43289908 ns/op	32982050 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  45645796 ns/op	32980113 B/op	  534104 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  44199303 ns/op	32981451 B/op	  534111 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  44895405 ns/op	32983880 B/op	  534125 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  43484135 ns/op	32981924 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  43868257 ns/op	32980767 B/op	  534107 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  45572511 ns/op	32981784 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  43924949 ns/op	32980925 B/op	  534108 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  45191036 ns/op	32981856 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  44165376 ns/op	32982489 B/op	  534117 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  46103348 ns/op	32982068 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  44435798 ns/op	32984204 B/op	  534127 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  45732149 ns/op	32982344 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  44789319 ns/op	32983056 B/op	  534120 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  44416523 ns/op	32981952 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  46589184 ns/op	32981816 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  44811440 ns/op	32984836 B/op	  534130 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  46814656 ns/op	32980045 B/op	  534103 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  46733385 ns/op	32983321 B/op	  534122 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  43811128 ns/op	32983405 B/op	  534122 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  44302362 ns/op	32982678 B/op	  534118 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  42687157 ns/op	32982605 B/op	  534118 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  46740313 ns/op	32981410 B/op	  534111 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  43888720 ns/op	32981951 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  48967131 ns/op	32983091 B/op	  534121 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47552323 ns/op	32982781 B/op	  534119 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  45930921 ns/op	32982755 B/op	  534119 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  45176492 ns/op	32982036 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  43749113 ns/op	32981794 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  44347744 ns/op	32982400 B/op	  534117 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  44490632 ns/op	32981696 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  43676803 ns/op	32981754 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  45355068 ns/op	32981624 B/op	  534112 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  46210835 ns/op	32982444 B/op	  534117 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  43364063 ns/op	32981368 B/op	  534111 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  45686323 ns/op	32983200 B/op	  534121 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      27	  43529143 ns/op	32980489 B/op	  534106 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  45084352 ns/op	32981534 B/op	  534112 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  43348286 ns/op	32980856 B/op	  534108 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  44832541 ns/op	32983265 B/op	  534122 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  46643049 ns/op	32983796 B/op	  534125 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  45719028 ns/op	32983888 B/op	  534125 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  44088833 ns/op	32981281 B/op	  534110 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  45139131 ns/op	32983370 B/op	  534122 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  43974275 ns/op	32983154 B/op	  534121 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  45578311 ns/op	32981390 B/op	  534111 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  44787977 ns/op	32982483 B/op	  534117 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  43957662 ns/op	32981906 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  44943902 ns/op	32982340 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  46838285 ns/op	32982288 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  45889353 ns/op	32982075 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  43948405 ns/op	32981228 B/op	  534110 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  44468185 ns/op	32980018 B/op	  534103 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  45898319 ns/op	32981948 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  44150129 ns/op	32983107 B/op	  534121 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  43878413 ns/op	32981756 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  44658215 ns/op	32981501 B/op	  534111 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  45579764 ns/op	32983965 B/op	  534126 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  45113229 ns/op	32982185 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  44234891 ns/op	32981473 B/op	  534111 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  44640716 ns/op	32980566 B/op	  534106 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      26	  45263733 ns/op	32984003 B/op	  534126 allocs/op
+PASS
+ok  	github.com/cilium/ebpf/btf	169.973s
diff --git a/before.txt b/before.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+goos: linux
+goarch: amd64
+pkg: github.com/cilium/ebpf/btf
+cpu: 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11800H @ 2.30GHz
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  46691592 ns/op	32981511 B/op	  534112 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  52474521 ns/op	32979463 B/op	  534100 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  49806373 ns/op	32981261 B/op	  534110 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  50448546 ns/op	32984462 B/op	  534128 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  47859030 ns/op	32983933 B/op	  534125 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  52234642 ns/op	32982742 B/op	  534119 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  51148161 ns/op	32983064 B/op	  534120 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47540286 ns/op	32984822 B/op	  534130 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  50202627 ns/op	32981999 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  50584053 ns/op	32981714 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      20	  51521796 ns/op	32982312 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  48791189 ns/op	32982104 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  49240581 ns/op	32981102 B/op	  534109 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48393343 ns/op	32983005 B/op	  534120 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  50280812 ns/op	32981280 B/op	  534110 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  48209890 ns/op	32982869 B/op	  534119 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  53598578 ns/op	32982180 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  48943676 ns/op	32980679 B/op	  534107 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47515737 ns/op	32983217 B/op	  534121 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  48174589 ns/op	32986318 B/op	  534139 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  53453773 ns/op	32980853 B/op	  534108 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  49706707 ns/op	32983278 B/op	  534122 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  50922362 ns/op	32981944 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  49769462 ns/op	32983483 B/op	  534123 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  50941923 ns/op	32983310 B/op	  534122 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48643446 ns/op	32982589 B/op	  534118 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  49213812 ns/op	32985810 B/op	  534136 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  46466587 ns/op	32983734 B/op	  534124 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  47188103 ns/op	32983082 B/op	  534120 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48957669 ns/op	32980956 B/op	  534108 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  51103915 ns/op	32983131 B/op	  534121 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  48572500 ns/op	32980791 B/op	  534107 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47205083 ns/op	32980211 B/op	  534104 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  47685840 ns/op	32982484 B/op	  534117 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  50396410 ns/op	32981510 B/op	  534112 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  50335648 ns/op	32982486 B/op	  534117 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48637253 ns/op	32981834 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  47845637 ns/op	32981409 B/op	  534111 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  49253383 ns/op	32981026 B/op	  534109 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48684452 ns/op	32982524 B/op	  534117 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  50340415 ns/op	32982117 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  47488040 ns/op	32981053 B/op	  534109 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  48949203 ns/op	32980351 B/op	  534105 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  57850494 ns/op	32984440 B/op	  534128 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  59386370 ns/op	32980843 B/op	  534108 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48030707 ns/op	32981710 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48631212 ns/op	32982787 B/op	  534119 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  46985713 ns/op	32983155 B/op	  534121 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47124145 ns/op	32983288 B/op	  534122 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  50217350 ns/op	32982293 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  46523298 ns/op	32981892 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47258617 ns/op	32982049 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47759287 ns/op	32982154 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  48647612 ns/op	32980996 B/op	  534109 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48464191 ns/op	32982342 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  47493949 ns/op	32982917 B/op	  534120 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  47687856 ns/op	32981902 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48646790 ns/op	32982794 B/op	  534119 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  48766655 ns/op	32981955 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  50579758 ns/op	32982708 B/op	  534118 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      20	  50094035 ns/op	32982193 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47890195 ns/op	32983035 B/op	  534120 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  48374687 ns/op	32982369 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48204991 ns/op	32980539 B/op	  534106 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      20	  50570051 ns/op	32984059 B/op	  534126 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  52497566 ns/op	32982483 B/op	  534117 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  49250302 ns/op	32983320 B/op	  534122 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  50893230 ns/op	32980973 B/op	  534109 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47924289 ns/op	32981650 B/op	  534112 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  45963177 ns/op	32981056 B/op	  534109 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  47321540 ns/op	32982749 B/op	  534119 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  46485296 ns/op	32982842 B/op	  534119 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  46738856 ns/op	32981100 B/op	  534109 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48790297 ns/op	32983013 B/op	  534120 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  48331314 ns/op	32983757 B/op	  534124 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48000468 ns/op	32981754 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47927634 ns/op	32982728 B/op	  534118 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47764305 ns/op	32983851 B/op	  534125 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  46158540 ns/op	32981759 B/op	  534113 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  49101244 ns/op	32981579 B/op	  534112 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  49260528 ns/op	32982029 B/op	  534114 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  46229651 ns/op	32982749 B/op	  534119 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48149059 ns/op	32982967 B/op	  534120 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  49136888 ns/op	32982077 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  48694394 ns/op	32983458 B/op	  534123 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  47674082 ns/op	32982953 B/op	  534120 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  46509332 ns/op	32983153 B/op	  534121 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  45999886 ns/op	32982172 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  47319806 ns/op	32983482 B/op	  534123 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  48313583 ns/op	32983773 B/op	  534124 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48183262 ns/op	32982362 B/op	  534116 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  47078799 ns/op	32982720 B/op	  534118 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47002105 ns/op	32982994 B/op	  534120 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      21	  48838861 ns/op	32983920 B/op	  534125 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47847680 ns/op	32982047 B/op	  534115 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      25	  47388751 ns/op	32982472 B/op	  534117 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  46258099 ns/op	32982656 B/op	  534118 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      22	  48041001 ns/op	32982600 B/op	  534118 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  47915324 ns/op	32983286 B/op	  534122 allocs/op
+BenchmarkParseVmlinux-16    	      24	  48747133 ns/op	32984783 B/op	  534130 allocs/op
+PASS
+ok  	github.com/cilium/ebpf/btf	174.657s
diff --git a/btf/strings.go b/btf/strings.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 type stringTable struct {
 	base    *stringTable
 	offsets []uint32
+	prevIdx int
 	strings []string
 }
 
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ func readStringTable(r sizedReader, base *stringTable) (*stringTable, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("first item in string table is non-empty")
 	}
 
-	return &stringTable{base, offsets, strings}, nil
+	return &stringTable{base, offsets, 0, strings}, nil
 }
 
 func splitNull(data []byte, atEOF bool) (advance int, token []byte, err error) {
@@ -84,15 +85,28 @@ func (st *stringTable) Lookup(offset uint32) (string, error) {
 }
 
 func (st *stringTable) lookup(offset uint32) (string, error) {
+	// Fast path: zero offset is the empty string, looked up frequently.
 	if offset == 0 && st.base == nil {
 		return "", nil
 	}
 
+	// Accesses tend to be globally increasing, so check if the next string is
+	// the one we want. This skips the binary search in about 50% of cases.
+	if st.prevIdx+1 < len(st.offsets) && st.offsets[st.prevIdx+1] == offset {
+		st.prevIdx++
+		return st.strings[st.prevIdx], nil
+	}
+
 	i, found := slices.BinarySearch(st.offsets, offset)
 	if !found {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("offset %d isn't start of a string", offset)
 	}
 
+	// Set the new increment index, but only if its greater than the current.
+	if i > st.prevIdx+1 {
+		st.prevIdx = i
+	}
+
 	return st.strings[i], nil
 }
 

diff --git a/btf/strings_test.go b/btf/strings_test.go
@@ -112,5 +112,5 @@ func newStringTable(strings ...string) *stringTable {
 		offset += uint32(len(str)) + 1 // account for NUL
 	}
 
-	return &stringTable{nil, offsets, strings}
+	return &stringTable{nil, offsets, 0, strings}
 }