# Profiles Top Functions

> Rank the functions in a service by self and total CPU samples with the Last9 Profiles top functions table.

Source: https://last9.io/docs/profiles/top-functions/

The **Top functions** tab shows the same profile data as the [flamegraph](/docs/profiles/flamegraph/), as a sortable table. Open a service from the [services view](/docs/profiles/services/) and switch to **Top functions**.

![Top functions table](../../../../assets/content/docs/profiles/profiles-top-functions.png)

## Columns

| Column            | Description                                              |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Function**      | Function name.                                           |
| **Self samples**  | Samples where the function itself was executing.         |
| **Self %**        | Self samples as a share of all samples for the service.  |
| **Total samples** | Samples where the function was anywhere on the stack.    |
| **Total %**       | Total samples as a share of all samples for the service. |

## Choosing a Sort Order

- **Sort by Self samples** to find the functions doing the most work directly. These are usually the best optimization targets.
- **Sort by Total samples** to find the entry points and handlers that lead to the most expensive work.

Unlike the flamegraph, the table merges a function across every call path it appears in. A function that shows up as many thin slivers in the flamegraph can still rank near the top here.

**Search functions** filters the table to matching rows. For example, searching for `encoding/json` removes unrelated runtime entries from the table; in the flamegraph, matching frames are highlighted and non-matching frames remain visible but dimmed. **Self %** and **Total %** still use all samples for the service as their denominator, so searching does not change their values.

**Hide runtime** removes runtime and system functions, as in the flamegraph view.

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## Troubleshooting

Please get in touch with us on [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Q3p2EEucx9) or [Email](mailto:cs@last9.io) if you have any questions.