Load Testing

Load Testing of software application is performed to identify maximum operating capability of the software. This determines system's behavior in both under the normal and intense conditions. It is a type of non-functional testing. To know the maximum capacity, specific load is given to application. This can be done by sending several requests to the server.

For example, if there is an online application to which you need to find the load on which it gets failed. several requests are needed to be sent simultaneously. For it we would need large no. of computer systems that may not be possible but there are some kind of Load tools which provide this functionality of sending requests simultaneously. Some online tools are paid and some are free. You can search and download them. For instance a free load tool is LoadUI. After downloading tool you can set request meter to the specific number eg; 50,100, 500 etc.

Suppose request meter is set to 50. It means application will consider that 50 users have sent the requests to it simultaneously. We can continuously increase the request to check maximum operating state of software application. Another example of load testing may include downloading or uploading large size data files from the software application.

This testing is performed constantly and steadily until the limit is known on which software gets failed or not responds.