Load Testing: Load Testing is a type of performance testing that determines the performance of a system, software product, or software application under real life based load conditions.
Stress Testing: Stress testing is a type of software testing that verifies the stability and reliability of the system. This test particularly determines the system on its robustness and error handling under extremely heavy load conditions.
Difference between Load Testing and Stress Testing:
S. No. | Load Testing | Stress Testing |
---|---|---|
1. | Load Testing is performed to test the performance of the system or software application under extreme load. | Stress Testing is performed to test the robustness of the system or software application under extreme load. |
2. | In load testing load limit is the threshold of a break. | In stress testing load limit is above the threshold of a break. |
3. | In load testing, the performance of the software is tested under multiple number of users. | In stress testing, the performance is tested under varying data amounts. |
4. | Huge number of users. | Too much users and too much data. |
5. | Load testing is performed to find out the upper limit of the system or application. | Stress testing is performed to find the behavior of the system under pressure. |
6. | The factor tested during load testing is performance. | The factor tested during stress testing is robustness and stability. |
7. | Load testing determines the operating capacity of a system or application. | Stress testing ensures system security. |
8. | The purpose of load testing is to generate more traffic for a web application. | The goal of stress testing is to prevent server crashes under sudden, high loads for an extended period. |
9. | Load testing is useful in finding bugs like memory overflows, etc., finding the adequacy of current infrastructure in running the applications, determining the number of concurrent users that an application can handle, checks for application’s scalability for accommodating more users and more. | Stress testing is useful as it aids the testing unit by testing the system in failure situations, checks for data saving by the system before it crashed, to see if any unanticipated failures potentially harm the security of the system, and more. |