Load testing is commonly used in computer technology to mean the process in which a computer, network, server, or application is subjected to a work level almost equivalent to its specifications’ limits. It is often done to accurately determine the capabilities of a single system or to compare the capabilities of different systems under controlled conditions. In the field, load testing is done to develop qualitative information about the effectiveness of the system’s functions in ‘’real world’’ situations. 

Types of Load Testing

Load testing is a sub-category of a more general process referred to as performance testing. The following are the major examples of load testing. 

• Running several applications on a server or a computer simultaneously
• Using the computer to download a series of large files from internet sources 
• Carrying out multiple tasks in a queue with a printer
• Continuously writing and reading information to and from a hard disk drive
• Running large amount of E-mail traffic on a single server

Load testing is often carried out in two main ways—longevity and volume testing. Longevity testing, also referred to as endurance testing, is used when evaluating the ability of a computer or server system to handle a constant and moderate workload for a long duration of time. On the other hand, volume testing involves subjecting the heavy system load of work for a limited time. Load testing with Gatling.io has also grown in popularity, especially for business applications to avoid crashing, improve time-to-market, and enhance user experience, among other benefits. 

For whichever approach one chooses, there are still possibilities of pinpointing a computer’s problems, bottlenecks, and limitations. For example, despite having a limited amount of Random Access Memory (RAM), some computers can have a fast processor speed. 

Benefits of Load Testing

1. It Is a Simulator for Real-User Scenarios

Carrying out load testing for your computer, app, website, or an API endpoint serves the same purpose as simulating its performance when multiple users visit it in real time. Paying attention to the real people using your product or system is essential. As a result, load testing understands, analyses, and fixes errors, bottlenecks, and bugs before their actual occurrence. For functional testing, your system may perform differently for one user than if it is used by many (load testing).

1. Different Performance of the System Under Load

When carrying out functional tests, you may have top-notch key point indicators such as error rate, CPU consumption, response time, and memory leakage. However, they might suddenly plummet and require more divided attention when scaling to multiple users across the globe. To solve this problem, you can run a load test, which helps you learn when and where your system broke; thus, it makes it possible to avoid upsetting users and losing revenues. 

1. The Code Can Mysteriously Change Your Product

Assuming you are a concerned system developer and you tested it not less than two months ago, the results indicated that most of your API endpoints were operating effectively. Moreover, you realized some bottlenecks and fixed them, then reran the test, and everything performed well, you will probably know that you changed some codes, and the better performance has resulted from the newly released versions. 

Conclusion 

Load testing is an essential part of computer technology. It is majorly used for testing the performance of a computer, system, or server under a high workload for a long or limited time. The three significant benefits of load testing are that it stimulates real user scenarios, changes the system’s performance under a load, and changes your product.