Nowadays, the reliability and performance of websites and web applications play a key role in the successful operation of a business. Load testing is one of the most important processes that allows you to determine the limits of software capabilities and prepare it for real-life conditions of use. However, in order to achieve accurate and valuable results, it is necessary to take into account the features of this type of testing and use the best load testing software. In this article, we offer to evaluate the features of load testing.
What Is Load Testing?
Load testing of software is the process of checking the operation of a system or application under a particular load. This operation helps to find out how well the project copes with its tasks.
Testing is an important stage of software development. Without it, projects will never be released. The corresponding operation is organized at different stages of development. As the program approaches launch, more and more time is devoted to organizing tests.
In a global sense, testing is checking the project for compliance with the requirements. Usually, its organization scheme looks like this:
- The customer asks for help from business analysts, who draw up a list of requirements for the desired project.
- Architects transform the information received. Based on it, technical specifications are created.
- Based on the technical specifications, developers create the source code of the project.
- Testers organize the verification of the resulting resource for compliance with the initially stated requirements.
- The requirements for the process in question can differ significantly from each other, depending on the complexity of the written project. This means that the testing complexity also differs.
Software tests provide an opportunity to check the project’s functionality and identify/correct any errors that arise. And load testing allows you to:
- Identify problematic and weak points in the software architecture.
- Evaluate the load limits at which the system is capable of normal operation. An example is data processing limitations.
- Determine the resources required for trouble-free and stable operation. This opportunity appears at the early stages of development.
- Evaluate how well the system is able to cope with tasks as the load increases – identify the possibilities for its scaling. This point is important in the process of planning infrastructure scaling – when a significant increase in the number of users is planned in the future.
- Identify potential problems associated with resource leakage or other instability that naturally appears during long-term operation under intensive work.
Load testing allows you to understand how well the project is able to recover and continue working after certain failures.
Difference Between Load Testing And Other Types of Tests
To better understand what load testing is, it is recommended to consider it together with other types of similar tests. Tests are different. The most common are the following:
i. Manual Functional Testing
This is the most common method used in software development. The first stage of testing a new system. Only after organizing this type of tests should you start load tests. To conduct manual functional testing, you need to familiarize yourself with the functional features of the application, develop test scenarios, and understand the technical documentation. No significant knowledge and skills are required to implement such a test – it is enough to know the basic principles of computer systems.
ii. Automated Functional Testing
Such tests are closely related to development. This is due to the fact that the tester will have to write codes in different programming languages. Checking the functional features of the application is carried out using auxiliary software. Here, knowing the basic principles of PC operation is not enough. The tester must understand SQL and also know at least one programming language.
iii. Load Testing
This is a key point in software testing. It can be used to test non-functional requirements for the product. There is no need to dive deeply into the functional aspects of the resulting service. Due to the corresponding feature, the complexity level of load testing is between functional and automated tests.
The above types of tests pursue a variety of goals and objectives. What unites them is the fact that they are all aimed at checking software products for compliance with the initially stated requirements.
Load Testing Methodology
The organization of load tests is preceded by the stage of developing a load testing methodology. This is the name of the document that reflects scenarios for further development, forecasts that help to put forward various hypotheses.
The load testing methodology is compiled according to approximately the following algorithm:
- First, specialists collect detailed information about the project. The more input data they receive, the better the further load testing will be organized.
- Specialists select the goals and objectives of load testing.
- Rules for modeling the system are discussed. They will differ slightly from the real conditions in which the original project is planned to function.
- The characteristics imposed on the application being tested are determined.
- All stages of the load test under the conditions of modeling the load on the system are described in detail by testers.
- A list of load testing results and concepts used for further analysis is formed.
- Recommendations are made for solving potential problems in the most vulnerable areas.
Main Stages of Load Testing
There are certain stages of load testing of a system. They may vary slightly depending on the specifics of a particular product. Most often, the process in question is carried out according to the following plan:
- Studying the product or system.
- Determining the goals pursued by the customer.
- Developing a methodology for organizing tests, and their strategy.
- Writing scripts that simulate the load required by testers.
- Conducting the load test directly.
- Collection and analysis of the information obtained.
- Formation of final reporting documents.
- Comparison of the results of the work with the selected testing methodology.
Final Thoughts
The main feature of load testing is that it allows you to simulate real software operating conditions, allowing you to identify limitations and prevent failures. The success of testing directly depends on a competent approach and the use of advanced solutions. The use of the best load testing tools ensure accuracy, reliability, and high performance of testing, which makes it an indispensable stage of development. We recommend paying attention to PFLB, a reliable provider of load testing services with over 15 years of experience in this field.
Read More : Why a B2B Marketing Funnel is Key to Success?
Read More : Benefits of Remote Working for Employees & Employers
