Performance Testing
eTestware is part of theICEway ecosystem of companies along with ICE and CRIBB Cyber Security, specialist IT brands which join forces to provide clients in cruise, travel and healthcare with a full, end-to-end digital solution. For over two decades our experts have delivered right sourced performance testing services in complete collaboration with your IT teams, and today we look at this form of testing in the second part of our series on different testing types (you can read part one here).
What is it?
Performance testing is designed to analyse how a system performs under a particular workload against predetermined benchmarks. The key objective is to eliminate bottlenecks rather than to discover software defects.
These benchmarks include speed, response time, stability, reliability, scalability and the resource use of the test subject, typically checking whether or not there is a quick response, what the maximum user load will be and what the level of stability is under different loads.
Top Tip: What are some of the best practices?
- Establish a baseline for user experience
- Create realistic tests
- Note the difference between the actual measured speed and perceived performance
- Correlate performance issues against underlying issues
What are the different types?
Load testing – This is deployed to evaluate the test subject’s ability to perform under anticipated user loads, identifying performance bottlenecks
Stress testing – Extreme workloads are used here to establish performance against high levels of data processing or traffic, uncovering the subject’s breaking point
Endurance testing – A testing type designed to establish whether or not the expected load can be handled over a long period
Spike testing – This measures the reaction to sudden large user spikes in the load
Volume testing – Large volumes of data are added to the database and overall behaviour is then measured to evaluate performance under varying database sizes
Scalability testing – This is designed to determine the test subject’s effectiveness when required to “scaling up” to support an increased user load.
This brief rundown of performance testing merely scratches the surface of what is a critical component of software testing. Designed to ensure customer satisfaction and retention, as well as offering peace of mind to investors by dismissing the chances of product failure, it is fundamental to the efforts of any testing team. For a more detailed account, please contact us via the form below and one of our software experts will be happy to oblige!
Next week: Security Testing