.. _profile-cli:

..program::cProfile

The files:mod:`cProfile` and:mod:`profile` can also be invoked as a script to

profile another script. For example::

``-o`` writes the profile results to a file instead of to stdout

..option::-o <output_file>

Writes the profile results to a file instead of to stdout.

..option::-s <sort_order>

Specifies one of the:func:`~pstats.Stats.sort_stats` sort values

to sort the output by.

This only applies when:option:`-o <cProfile -o>` is not supplied.

``-s`` specifies one of the:func:`~pstats.Stats.sort_stats` sort values to sort

the output by. This only applies when ``-o`` is not supplied.

..option::-m <module>

``-m`` specifies that a module is being profiled instead of a script.

Specifies that a module is being profiled instead of a script.

..versionadded::3.7

Added the ``-m`` option to:mod:`cProfile`.

..versionadded::3.7

Added the ``-m`` option to:mod:`cProfile`.

..versionadded::3.8

Added the ``-m`` option to:mod:`profile`.

..versionadded::3.8

Added the ``-m`` option to:mod:`profile`.

The:mod:`pstats` module's:class:`~pstats.Stats` class has a variety of methods

for manipulating and printing the data saved into a profile results file::