Load testing is a type of performance testing that evaluates how a system, software application, or website performs under a specific expected load. The primary goal of load testing is to determine the system's behavior under both normal and peak load conditions, ensuring it can handle the anticipated number of concurrent users or transactions without performance degradation.
Key Objectives of Load Testing:
Identify Bottlenecks: Detect performance bottlenecks in the application or infrastructure that could hinder performance under load.
Determine Maximum Operating Capacity: Establish the maximum number of users or transactions the system can handle before performance starts to degrade.
Evaluate Scalability: Assess the system's ability to scale up to meet increased user demand.
Ensure Stability: Verify that the system remains stable and performs well under expected and peak load conditions.
Measure Response Times: Track and analyze response times for critical transactions and user interactions to ensure they meet acceptable performance criteria.
Find Breaking Points: Determine the point at which the system fails or becomes unstable under load.
Load Testing Process:
Test Environment Setup: Create a dedicated test environment that closely mimics the production environment.
Define Performance Criteria: Establish acceptable limits for response times, throughput, and resource utilization.
Create Load Test Scenarios: Develop scenarios that simulate real-world user interactions and load conditions.
Execute Test Scenarios: Run the load tests, gradually increasing the load to observe system behavior.
Monitor and Collect Metrics: Gather data on response times, error rates, throughput, CPU and memory usage, and other relevant metrics.
Analyze Results: Analyze the collected data to identify performance issues and bottlenecks.
Report Findings: Generate a detailed report summarizing the test results and providing recommendations for improvements.
Re-test: After making necessary optimizations, re-run the tests to verify that the issues have been resolved.
