.. _profile-cli:
+.. program:: cProfile
+
The files :mod:`cProfile` and :mod:`profile` can also be invoked as a script to
profile another script. For example::
python -m cProfile [-o output_file] [-s sort_order] (-m module | myscript.py)
-``-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::