Software Stress Tests And Why Are They Important

Apr 5, 2023

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Software stress tests allow you to measure the response capacity of a system under critical conditions. Learn more about them here. You don’t have to wait for the launch of a computer product to know its limits under specific work conditions. Actual user interactions—such as product purchases or website visits—can be simulated through software testing practices. Software stress tests are an effective tool for these purposes by identifying and avoiding problems during the use of a system, such as saturation, data loss, or a security breach. Thanks to this, errors can be prevented in the final stages of the software life cycle without jeopardizing the quality and reputation of the project. The key is to measure the response capacity of a system in critical situations. In this article, you will learn what this type of testing consists of and its importance in the development of a computer product.

What is software stress testing?

Software stress tests, also known as resistance tests, are a resource used during the testing stage with the aim of testing the limits of a system and anticipating risk scenarios in the face of extreme loads. To do this, the developers simulate the use of the computer product by sending constant requests, beyond the normal parameters that they could attend to in short periods. If the system is not in optimal condition, it will respond with errors or abnormal behavior, such as code failures or information blockages. The testers must verify that once the failure is identified, the system is able to recover and function satisfactorily.

Why is stress testing essential?

Today, digital platforms have become the main means of disseminating cultural or entertainment shows. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of people turned to their mobile devices to watch concerts via streaming from anywhere. This became an opportunity to explore new platforms and improve those that had already ventured into the transmission of live events. However, the saturation of these events and the simultaneous access of many people to the same page can cause technical failures in the signal transmission systems. This is just one of the many unsuccessful cases where a software stress test could fail or be missed. Online stores, digital banks, or businesses dependent on a digital platform, regardless of the industry to which they belong, are susceptible to failures of this type. However, the repercussions detected in the late stages can jeopardize the economy and reputation of those involved.

Types of stress tests

Of the application

Application stress tests are carried out in the event of possible errors associated with information blocking, connection failures, or bottlenecks—when one of the system components interferes with general functions.

Transactional

This type of testing focuses on applications that exchange data with each other, whether within the same system or with external ones. Thanks to them, the connection and transactions between two or more applications are optimized.

Systemic

As their name indicates, systemic stress tests are applicable when it is necessary to test the operation of two or more systems that operate on the same server. Sometimes an application can interfere with the operation of another, hence the importance of identifying it.

Exploratory

Exploratory stress tests are run when the system is susceptible to failure under unexpected conditions, such as platform flooding, virus insertion, or unusual data loss.

When should I take a stress test?

Software stress tests are commonly performed at advanced stages when the different modules that make up the system have been integrated. The importance of these tests lies in the fact that they can help you improve the quality of your computer products without jeopardizing the resources invested.

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