Load testing is the act of testing a system under load. In software engineering it generally refers to the practice of modeling the expected usage of a program by simulating multiple users accessing the program's services concurrently.
As such, this testing is most relevant for multi-user systems, often one built using a client/server model, such as web servers. However, other types of software systems can be load-tested also. For example, a word processor or graphics editor can be forced to read an extremely large document; or a financial package can be forced to generate a report based on several years' worth of data.
When the load placed on the system is raised beyond normal usage patterns, in order to test the system's response at unusually high or peak loads, it is known as stress testing. The load is usually so great that error conditions are the expected result, although there is a gray area between the two domains and no clear boundary exists when an activity ceases to be a load test and becomes a stress test.
There is little agreement on what the specific goals of load testing are. The term is often used synonymously with performance testing, reliability testing, and volume testing.
More information
More information
Subcategories 1
Related categories 3
Sites 18
Graphical server performance testing tool, for both static and dynamic resources (files or CGI, Servlets, Perl scripts). It may be used to simulate a heavy load on a server or network to test its strength or to analyse overall performance under different load types. [Open Source, BSD-like]
JLoadTrace: Introspection of distributed J2EE applications, Java performance analysis, profiling, monitoring, load testing.
A Java load-testing framework. It has support for testing HTTP based services and can also be used to test MOM and POP3, SMTP, FTP, and LDAP applications. [Open Source, BSD-style license]
A weblog for the beginners as well as expert users of LoadRunner, a performance testing tool by HP-Mercury. This weblog offers basic concepts and scripting techniques on LoadRunner.
Offers NeoLoad, a testing tool for web applications which provides monitors and results reports to pinpoint bottlenecks and performance issues, as well as application deployment services. [Commercial, trial version]
Web performance management software and services including stress testing, performance monitoring, and professional services.
Project to build a distributed Web load testing architecture based around CORBA. [Open Source]
Offers software-testing-related services and, on its site, articles and presentations about performance testing written by Scott Barber.
Social network for software testing community. Features personal page, job listings and testing tool directory.
Range of professional web load and database testing and monitoring solutions.
Developer of web application testing and analysis software to verify the performance, scalability, and integrity of e-business applications. [Commercial]
The Advanced .NET Testing System (ANTS) is for load and scalability testing of .NET web services and other web applications. [Commercial, trial version]
Performance testing of computer-based business systems using automated testing and monitoring technologies.
Offers automated testing solutions for Windows platforms and focuses on load testing, application monitoring and functional testing for various enterprise applications. [Commercial]
WAPT is a load and stress testing tool for web sites and intranet applications with web interface. Accurate load simulation, run-time test data generation, recording and play back of secure HTTPS requests, clear graphs and reports. [Commercial, trial version]
Load, stress, and performance testing software and tools for Web servers. Interactive reports tell how many real users a Web site can handle at one time and which Web pages are slow. [Commercial]
A HTTP-client/server load, stress and performance testing application designed to pinpoint critical issues in Web server that may prevent optimal performance. By Paessler GmbH. [Commercial, trial version]
The Tuxedo Adaptor allows users to perform load, stress and performance benchmarking against applications which utilize BEA's Tuxedo. The software is solely available included in IBM/Rational testing products. [Commercial]
JLoadTrace: Introspection of distributed J2EE applications, Java performance analysis, profiling, monitoring, load testing.
Graphical server performance testing tool, for both static and dynamic resources (files or CGI, Servlets, Perl scripts). It may be used to simulate a heavy load on a server or network to test its strength or to analyse overall performance under different load types. [Open Source, BSD-like]
Load, stress, and performance testing software and tools for Web servers. Interactive reports tell how many real users a Web site can handle at one time and which Web pages are slow. [Commercial]
Developer of web application testing and analysis software to verify the performance, scalability, and integrity of e-business applications. [Commercial]
The Tuxedo Adaptor allows users to perform load, stress and performance benchmarking against applications which utilize BEA's Tuxedo. The software is solely available included in IBM/Rational testing products. [Commercial]
Social network for software testing community. Features personal page, job listings and testing tool directory.
A weblog for the beginners as well as expert users of LoadRunner, a performance testing tool by HP-Mercury. This weblog offers basic concepts and scripting techniques on LoadRunner.
Offers automated testing solutions for Windows platforms and focuses on load testing, application monitoring and functional testing for various enterprise applications. [Commercial]
Offers NeoLoad, a testing tool for web applications which provides monitors and results reports to pinpoint bottlenecks and performance issues, as well as application deployment services. [Commercial, trial version]
WAPT is a load and stress testing tool for web sites and intranet applications with web interface. Accurate load simulation, run-time test data generation, recording and play back of secure HTTPS requests, clear graphs and reports. [Commercial, trial version]
A Java load-testing framework. It has support for testing HTTP based services and can also be used to test MOM and POP3, SMTP, FTP, and LDAP applications. [Open Source, BSD-style license]
Project to build a distributed Web load testing architecture based around CORBA. [Open Source]
Offers software-testing-related services and, on its site, articles and presentations about performance testing written by Scott Barber.
Range of professional web load and database testing and monitoring solutions.
Web performance management software and services including stress testing, performance monitoring, and professional services.
Performance testing of computer-based business systems using automated testing and monitoring technologies.
The Advanced .NET Testing System (ANTS) is for load and scalability testing of .NET web services and other web applications. [Commercial, trial version]
A HTTP-client/server load, stress and performance testing application designed to pinpoint critical issues in Web server that may prevent optimal performance. By Paessler GmbH. [Commercial, trial version]
