Performance Testing Vs Load Testing: Spot Common Differences

One of the primary issues within the software testing industry is the confusion that prevails around performance testing and load testing. It is believed that both are either the same or function as a substitute for one another. To be clear, performance testing helps in the assessment of a system’s performance, whereas, load testing evaluates how the performance varies as different demands are piled on the system.

We will try to form a clear understanding of these two test variants and how they differ from each other. This write-up would prove beneficial in clearing the perplexity surrounding performance testing and load testing.

Introduction to Performance Testing

If we wish to define performance testing, it can be called as a canopy for both stress testing and load testing. It can be referred to as a form of testing that actively validates a system’s performance and its response under stress. You can easily understand performance testing through the below-mentioned pointers:

Performance testing helps to verify the error rate and its response when introduced to higher loads.
This test variant works to evaluate the average response time for different requests.
With the implementation of performance testing, you can analyze how the application behaves when introduced to different types of loads.

Usefulness of Performance Testing

The performance of an application needs to be assessed without any delay. If you deliver an application without a proper performance test put in place, it is susceptible to reflect quality issues. With the implementation of performance testing for an application you can acquire the following aspects:

Stability analysis for the concerned software or application.
Assess the behavior of the application when treated at a normal load.
Scope to improve performance by customizing configurations.
Spot performance barriers as early as during the development cycle.

Introduction to Load Testing

The purpose of load testing is to identify the behavior of the application under familiar loads. Hence, it is important to be aware of the load you wish to apply for the application. After fixing this, you can conveniently conduct load testing for the concerned application.

Typically, load testing is initiated in a condition where additional requests strike the application under a specified time gap. Further, you get to increase the count of requests to reach the expected load related to the application. At this stage, testing experts make sure to strike the application for a few more minutes with the purpose to recognize potential CPU or memory issues.

Usefulness of Load Testing

The benefits associated to load testing should be understood for better insight into this comparison. Some of the prime aspects of load testing are as follows:

Load testing allows you to acquire a better perceptive about the expected load that hits the target application. This action is useful to understand the application’s limits and smartly avoid the risk of failure.
With the implementation of load testing, you get to learn better about CPU time and memory usage of the application. Such data is essential in evaluating crucial factors such as the stability and soundness of the application.
The organization is allowed to take necessary precautions for scaling the application considering the count of requests per minute slowly reaches the expected limit. With such precautions, you get the opportunity to lessen the risk of failure.

Differentiators between Performance Testing and Load Testing

Domain:

Performance testing is called as a superset of stress and load testing
Load testing is basically a subset of performance testing

Range:

The range of performance testing extends from load testing, capacity testing, stress testing, volume testing, spike testing, reliability testing, scalability testing, etc.

The range of load testing is slightly contracted in comparison to performance testing; it includes endurance testing and volume testing.

Load Limit:

For performance testing, the load limit is both below and above the threshold point of breakage.
For load testing, the load limit is restricted to the threshold point of breakage.

Problems Detected:

The deployment of performance testing helps detect performance bugs such as runtime bloat, optimization range, speed issues, etc.
Load testing helps you focus on load balancing issues, bandwidth issues, capacity issues, bad response time, etc.

Based on the above pointers, it can be concluded that both performance testing and load testing serve a different purpose within software testing. Their roles are imperative and are directed at benefiting organizations in refining their product offerings. To learn more about the differences between performance testing and load testing, you can connect with testers at ImpactQA.