An Introduction To Performance Testing

Testing a software application’s non-functional features, such as reaction time, speed, dependability, and scalability under various workloads, is known as performance testing. Performance testing’s primary goal is to locate software applications’ performance bottlenecks and remove them to improve utilisation. The purpose of performance testing is to evaluate stability, scalability, and speed. Giving stakeholders information about the application’s scalability, reaction time, throughput, and other non-functional factors is the main goal of performance testing.

There’s always a chance of experiencing problems like poor reaction time, low throughput, sluggish connection times, etc. if performance testing isn’t done. Performance testing is important for software applications with long duration of usage and with large deviations in workloads.

Also, Read Principles of Software Testing

Types of Performance Testing

Load testing: This technique evaluates how well a software programme performs while a high user load is present. It guarantees the functionality of software programmes even when millions or even thousands of people are using them concurrently.

Stress Testing: When a software programme is subjected to an intense demand, stress testing is conducted to determine how the application is used. Finding the application’s breaking point is the aim of software applications.

Endurance testing: This is done to see how well a piece of software will function over an extended period of use.

Spike testing: Testing an application with abrupt spikes and drops in user traffic is known as “spike testing.”

Volume testing: Volume testing involves populating a database with a significant amount of data and monitoring the general functionality of the system. Finding out how the programme manages massive amounts of data is the aim of volume testing.

Scalability Testing: This process checks if software programmes can be made more complex or expanded in the future to accommodate a larger user base.

Also, Read The Significance of SQL For Software Testing

How To Perform Performance Testing?

The goal of performance testing does not change despite the many approaches used to carry it out. It helps make sure that the programme operates as needed when there are a lot of users, a lot of data, and other factors that cause software programmes to have performance bottlenecks.

Step 1:- Identify Your Test Environment

Before beginning any software application testing, testers need to be familiar with the programme, its goal, and the hardware, software, and network configuration needed to test the programme. It facilitates more efficient testing on the part of the tester. It facilitates the tester’s ability to recognise potential difficulties that might arise when evaluating the application.

Step 2 :- Identify The Performance Acceptance Criteria

The intended outcomes or standards for the software application’s performance under various user loads, data volumes, and network configurations are known as the performance acceptance criteria. Since most clients lack clarity regarding performance parameters and their documentation contains little to no information on performance-related topics, it falls to the tester to describe the application’s performance parameters in terms of its intended use and purpose.

Step 3 :- Plan and Design Performance Tests

Software testers utilise performance testing test cases to determine and plan how to evaluate performance criteria. The test cases are created with the necessary scaling up of parameters for software application performance in mind. The test cases ought to be few in number and have a broad scope. The test cases aid in planning test data, creating a traceability matrix, and simulating actual user scenarios.

Step 4 :- Configuring the Test Environment

Prior to execution, set up the testing environment. The QA team sets up the hardware, software, and network setup necessary for performance testing. Test data and scenarios are gathered to replicate a real-world user environment.

Step 5 :- Implement Test Design

The development aim, commercial goal, and technical specifications of the software application are taken into consideration when creating the performance test cases.

Step 6 :- Run The Tests

Software applications’ prepared test cases and test data are run in a test environment designed to mimic the real-world user environment. The QA team is running the test cases and delivering the discovered flaws to the development team for correction and retesting.

Step 7 :- Test Closure Report

The test closure report, which is generated once the application has undergone thorough testing, specifies the values of various traceability matrices that provide details on how well the programme performs under various user loads and data volumes.