What is performance testing?

Performance testing is non-functional testing that is used to determine how an application will work under load. Performance metrics such as speed, scalability, and stability are tested and compared with the benchmark set by the stakeholders.

Types

The different types of performance testing are:

• Stress testing

  The application is tested under an extreme workload to determine the level of load at which the app crashes.

• Load testing

  The application is tested under the workload generated in normal conditions to measure response time and fix any bottlenecks.

• Spike testing

  The workload is changed rapidly, and the application’s response is monitored.

• Endurance testing

  The application is exposed to the anticipated workload for an extended period to determine if it can handle a prolonged load.

• Volume testing

  The application’s database is fed a large amount of data to determine the app’s data-processing efficiency.

• Scalability testing

  The workload is gradually increased to determine how efficiently the app can scale up.

Steps

The steps below are involved in performance testing:

1. Identify the tools, hardware, and software available to design and run tests.

2. Determine the test acceptance criteria by referencing the benchmarks provided by the stakeholders.

3. Design the tests.

4. Execute the tests. There are tools like WebLOAD and LoadNinja that facilitate performance testing.

5. Lastly, analyze the results to identify bottlenecks and areas that can be improved.