What is Load Testing? What is the Difference in Stress Testing?

Software QA/Testing

Glossary and Technical FAQs

Q: What is load testing?

A: Load testing simulates the expected usage of a software program, by simulating multiple users that access the program's services concurrently. Load testing is most useful and most relevant for multi-user systems, client/server models, including web servers.

For example, the load placed on the system is increased above normal usage patterns, in order to test the system's response at peak loads.

Q: What is the difference between stress testing and load testing?

A: Load testing generally stops short of stress testing.

During stress testing, the load is so great that the expected results are errors, though there is gray area in between stress testing and load testing.

Load testing is a blanket term that is used in many different ways across the professional software testing community.

The term, load testing, is often used synonymously with stress testing, performance testing, reliability testing, and volume testing.

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