Each performance test type targets a specific load condition to uncover distinct system behaviors, from peak capacity validation to long-term endurance and sudden spike resilience.
The highest expected user load based on production data, or predicted load for new applications.
A user load higher than peak load — based on historical growth trends, or 125%, 150%, 200% of peak if no historical data is available.
Calculated from historical usage patterns, or 50%, 60%, 75% of peak load if no data is available. Runs for many hours.
Load jumps instantly from base load to spike load. Base can be average or peak load. Spike types: Constant, Step-up, or Random.
User load keeps increasing until the system breaks. There is no upper limit, no steady-state — only continuous ramp-up.
| Test Type | Specific Load Condition | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Load Test | Peak Load | Check performance at peak load, validate resource usage, detect bottlenecks |
| Stress Test | Future Load (> Peak) | Check behavior under heavy load, capture failures, validate future scalability |
| Soak Test | Average Load (Long Duration) | Detect memory leaks, GC issues, long-term stability, resource trends |
| Spike Test | Sudden Spike Load | Check behavior under abrupt traffic jump, response deviation, failures, recovery |
| Break-Point Test | Continuously Increasing (No Limit) | Identify max capacity, break point, first failing component, saturation point |