Performance testing is an important part of software testing processes. It ensures proper performance of software through various tests and gives valuable results. There are many performance testing tools which software testers can use while performing various tests on a software application or website. More than just finding and pointing out errors, these performance testing tools provide statistics like load and stress test, which helps in measuring the performance of software for endurance and also helps to tune it for better performance.
Performance testing is an important part of software testing. When performance testing, a tester will be looking to find defects and problems within an application, as well as the underlying infrastructure that supports it. There are a number of different tools and techniques that can be used to test the performance of an application and other infrastructure that can go along with it too. This is a list of just some of them.
Load testing is a process used to determine the behavior of a system under normal conditions, as well as peak load conditions, to ensure smooth and consistent performance. Load testing is used to give confidence and reliability to the system. It helps to identify traffic jams in the system and gives insight into what elements may be not be performing adequately, ensuring that when applications and services put into production there are no surprises. Load testing is used to maximize the operating capacity of applications and it also find outs the elements that cause degradation in bottlenecks or traffic jam. It is used to detect network delay, issues in software configuration, and database components. It improves the scalability and customer satisfaction. In this article, we’ll set our to explain the differences between web UI and back-end testing.
What is Performance Testing?
Performance Testing is a type of software testing which ensures that the application is performing well under the workload. The goal of performance testing is not to find bugs but to eliminate performance bottlenecks. It measures the quality attributes of the system.
The attributes of Performance Testing include:
- Speed – It determines whether the application responds quickly.
- Scalability – It determines maximum user load the software application can handle.
- Stability – It determines if the application is stable under varying loads.
Now let’s move ahead with our “Performance Testing Tools” article and have a look at why do we need performance testing.
Top 10 Performance Testing Tools | Edureka
This edureka video on “Performance Testing tools” will help you know about Performance Testing and the different tools available for testing. It will provide the features and protocols for the best performance testing tools.
Why do we need Performance Testing?
- Performance testing informs the stakeholders about the speed, scalability, and stability of their application.
- It reveals the necessary improvements needed before the product is released in the market.
- Performance Testing also ensures that the software is not running slow while several users are using it simultaneously.
- It also checks the inconsistency across different operating systems.
These were just a few out of the many reasons why we need performance testing. Now let’s move ahead with our “Performance Testing Tools” article and have a look at the different advantages of it.
Advantages of Performance Testing
Validate Features – Performance testing validates the fundamental features of the software. A solid software foundation is a key principle of generating software success. Measuring the performance of basic software functions allows business leaders to make key decisions about the setup of the software.
Measure the speed, accuracy, and stability – Measuring performance speed, accuracy and stability is a vital aspect of software performance testing. It helps you in monitoring the crucial components of your software under duress. This can give you vital information on how the software will be able to handle scalability.
Keep your users happy – Measuring application performance allows you to observe how your customers respond to your software. The advantage is that you can pinpoint critical issues before your customers.
Identify discrepancies – Measuring performance provides a buffer for developers before release. Any issues are likely to be magnified once they are released. Performance testing allows any issues to be ironed out.
Improve optimization and load capability – Another benefit of performance testing is the ability to improve optimization and load capacity. Measuring performance can help your organization deal with volume so your software can cope when you hit high levels of users.
Types of Performance Testing
The different types of performance testing are:
- Load testing – It checks the application’s ability to perform under anticipated user loads. The objective is to identify performance bottlenecks before the software application goes live.
- Stress testing – This involves testing an application under extreme workloads to see how it handles high traffic or data processing. The objective is to identify the breaking point of an application.
- Endurance testing – It is done to make sure the software can handle the expected load over a long period of time.
- Spike testing – This tests the software’s reaction to sudden large spikes in the load generated by users.
- Volume testing – Under Volume Testing large no. of. Data is populated in a database and the overall software system’s behavior is monitored. The objective is to check the software application’s performance under varying database volumes.
- Scalability testing – The objective of scalability testing is to determine the software application’s effectiveness in scaling up to support an increase in user load. It helps plan capacity addition to your software system.
1. LoadNinja
It allows you to create scriptless sophisticated load tests and reduces testing time by half. It also replaces load emulators with real browsers and gets actionable, browser-based metrics at ninja speed. LoadNinja empowers teams to increase their test coverage without giving up on the quality by removing the tedious efforts of dynamic correlation, script translation, and script scrubbing.
| Features | Protocols |
| Scriptless load test creation & playback Real browser load test execution at scale VU Debugger debug tests in real time VU Inspector manages virtual user activity in real time It is hosted on the cloud Browser-based metrics with analytics and reporting features | HTTP HTTPS SAP GUI Web WebSocket Java-based protocol Google Web Toolkit Oracle forms |
2. Apache JMeter
JMeter is an open source tool that can be used for performance and load testing for analyzing and measuring the performance of a variety of services. This tool is mainly used for web and web service applications.
| Features | Protocols |
| It supports multiple load injectors managed by a single controller Highly portable and supports all the Java-based apps Less scripting efforts as compared to other tools Simple charts and graphs for analyzing key load related statistics and resource usage monitors. Supports Integrated real-time, Tomcat collectors for Monitoring | HTTP HTTPS XML SOAP Java-based protocols FTP |
3. WebLOAD
WebLOAD is an enterprise-scale load testing tool. It features a comprehensive IDE, Load Generation Console, and a sophisticated Analytics Dashboard. This is a web and mobile load testing and analysis tool from RadView Software.
| Features | Protocols |
| Flexible test scenario creation Supports every major web technology Powerful correlation engine Automatic bottleneck detection Generate load on-premise or in the cloud Native JavaScript scripting | HTTP HTTPS XML Enterprise applications Network Technology Server Technologies |
4. LoadUI Pro
LoadUI Pro allows you to quickly create scriptless sophisticated load tests, distribute them on cloud using load agents and monitor the performance of your servers as you increase the load on them. You can access detailed reports and quickly automate your load tests.
| Features | Protocols |
| Scriptless Load test creation Preconfigured load test templates like spike, baseline, stress, smoke Drag and drop load tests on distribution agents on cloud Sophisticated analytics and statists features for reporting Quick conversion of functional tests | HTTP REST SOAP JSON API Blueprint JSON Schema XML Schema |
5. LoadView
LoadView utilizes real browser-based load testing for websites, web applications, and APIs. It creates multi-step scripts that simulate users interacting with your website or application. With LoadView by Dotcom-Monitor, you can show the actual performance of your applications under load.
| Features | Protocols |
| Cloud-based load testing in real browsers Supports Rich Internet Applications Quickly and easily build test scripts without touching a line of code Test compatibility on mobile browsers and devices Identify bottlenecks and ensure scalability Performance metrics and reports that can be shared with various internal stakeholders | Flash Silverlight Java HTML5 PHP Ruby |
6. NeoLoad
NeoLoad is an innovative performance testing platform designed to automate test design, maintenance, and analysis for Agile and DevOps teams. It integrates with continuous delivery pipelines to support performance testing.
| Features | Protocols |
| Automated test design enabling faster test creation Integration with CI servers for automated test runtime It consists of Shared test scripts and reports Hybrid on-premise and cloud load generation from over 70 global localizations | HTTP HTTPS SOAP REST Flex Push AJAX Push |
7. LoadRunner
LoadRunner is a software testing tool from Micro Focus. It is used to test applications, measuring system behavior, and performance under load. It can simulate thousands of users concurrently using application software.
| Features | Protocols |
| Lower hardware and software costs by accurately predicting system capacity It Pinpoints the root cause of application performance problems quickly and accurately It has Effective tool utilization tracking Browser-based access to global test resources and optimal usage of load generator farm | All protocols are supported by Load Runner |
8. Silk Performer
Silk Performer tool is an enterprise class load and stress testing tool and has the ability to test multiple application environments with the thousands of concurrent users. It also supports the widest range of protocols.
| Features | Protocols |
| It requires minimum hardware resources Simulates modifiable virtual users Supports integrated server monitoring This has Customer friendly licensing Correlation and Parameterization is user-friendly No License requirement for Controllers This Handles Load Test in the project approach | HTTP/HTML HTTPS/HTML HTTP/HTTPS, Flash Email (SMTP/ POP) FTP, TCP/IP, LDAP XML/SOAP |
9. AppLoader
AppLoader is a load testing solution designed for business applications. It allows you to test any application by reproducing the same user experience from all your access points.
| Features | Protocols |
| AppLoader allows you to test the entire business flow This replicates the users’ interactions with your application Scripts are created automatically when you use your application | Citrix XenApp XenDesktop Cloud-based Infrastructure EHR Systems Customer Applications |
10. SmartMeter.io
SmartMeter.io is an alternative to JMeter and aims to fix its drawbacks. It allows for easy scriptless test scenario creation using the so-called Recorder, yet still lets you make advanced edits of the test. It also excels in test reporting and makes use of functions.
| Features | Protocols |
| • Scriptless test scenario creation • Comprehensive reporting with automatic evaluation • The GUI test run with real-time results • State of the art response body extractor • It is CI/CD ready | HTTP JDBC LDAP SOAP JMS FTP |
With this, we have come to the end of the top 10 performance testing tools list. I hope you guys enjoyed this article and got an idea about the best tools available for performance testing.
Now that you know about the different performance testing tools, check out the Performance Testing Using JMeter Course by Edureka, a trusted online learning company with a network of more than 250,000 satisfied learners spread across the globe. This course provides you insights into software behavior during workload. In this course, you will learn how to check the response time and latency of software and test if a software package is efficient for scaling. The course will help you check the strength and analyze the overall performance of an application under different load types. Got a question for us? Please mention it in the comments section of “Performance Testing Tools” and we will get back to you.
Load Testing Key Metrics
- Response time. Response time is the total time from users request to response. Response time begins when the user submits the request and ends when the request states that the request has been completed.
- Concurrent Users. In concurrent user load testing, time is dedicated to put pressure on infrastructure and record system response times during various periods of heavy traffic on websites and web applications.
- Latency. Latency is a subset of response time. It has a specific time duration in which it reaches the servers.
- Throughput. Throughput is the number of transactions which can be handled by an application in a second. It is the amount of transactions per time.
Load Testing UI
Load testing a user interface requires a platform that is adjustable, customizable, and also flexible. UI testing involves testing everything that is visible to your users, or the client side. This can be anything from forms, menus, portals, shopping carts, etc. The ability to create load tests that more accurately depict user scenarios within your UI allows you to better understand what the user will experience. By analyzing the system where critical issues occur you can make performance adjustments and can create a proper way to check issues you need to solve in increasing performance. For this article, we’ll be taking a look at LoadView and how users can setup various load test types to test their UI.
LoadView allows you to set up your load tests by using three different curves: Load Step, Goal-based, and Dynamic Adjustable curves. We’ll take a look at them here.
Load Step Curve
The Load Step Curve show traffic in the set of numbers to chase task on time. It is based on visitors and their rates (arrival/departure) in the load curve. If any changes in representation the chart shows visual. To handle the load follow different steps for verification.
Goal Based Curve
The Goal Based Curve shows your website expectation of traffic, it’s planning, and also production culture. It also works on transaction goal and device response on time this setup put up with a start with many users in load testing.
Dynamic Adjustable Curve
Lastly, the Dynamic Adjustable Curve shows barriers of your website structure, how websites and applications change on a different level of increasing and decreasing of a load.
An additional feature of the LoadView solution is Geo-Distributed and flexible On-Demand load testing, allowing you to create real-world tests that from where your users are located. Manipulate how web services, network, and frameworks work under load issues. Test and improve the performance of site, applications and services. Check the limits of performance to ensure customer satisfaction.
What is Back-end Testing?
Back-end testing is testing that checks the application and database layer of a 3 tier architecture (Presentation layer, Logic layer, and Data Access layer). In a complex software computer program, like an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system for example, back-end testing would involve checking the business logic in the application layer. For simpler computer programs, back-end testing checks the server-side, or more specifically, the data that is entered in the front-end will be checked in the back-end.
The purpose of back-end testing is to ensure the data presenting. In the back-end, the testing layer is performed on application and database form. The main purposes of back-end testing are database testing. It has different types for database testing like structural testing, functional testing, and non-functional testing.
The back-end database is examined for better performance and its privacy, and no need of looking at the user interface. From the back-end the data is entered directly from the browser permanently. This requires different languages, like XML or JSON. From the back-end the data is directly entered and verified with the help of SQL. Back-end database testing is very authentic, and also some important tools which solve issues with the help of this. Through this testing, we can also check the shortage and data loss/corruption and bad performance of web services.
In back-end testing the server and database are checked. The data entered in the front end will be stored in the back-end database. The database may be SQL server, MySQL, oracle, DB2, etc
We can also test APIs from the back-end. It is used to test API actions, to verify HTTP status code, verify pay load, verify response headers, correct application, and verify performance sanity.
Load Testing Web UI and Back-end Testing
Here is a chart that explains the major differences between UI and back-end load testing.
| LOAD Testing Web UI | Back-end Testing |
| 1. The testing of UI is to detect errors and solution of these issues for better performance. | 1. The purpose of back-end testing is to provide services for database testing for web service and application |
| 2. The database is basic elements of all applications so general user interface and database work together better work of application and in user interface testing the test is complete for better performance of an application. | 2. In back end testing, no further information is a need but in the user interface testing required information. Testing UI checks the overall functions of the application and in the back end, testing is about the database. |
| 3. It is used to understand the behavior of the software. | 3. It is used to test the server and the database saved on back-end. |
Web UI vs. Back-end Load Testing: Conclusion
We noticed that the UI testing and back-end testing both is important for web development. The user interface testing is used to detect the performance of all the applications and the web services and the back-end testing is for the database setup of the website both are for website performance.
UI examine the overall performance and hurdles and back-end is for the data server and organization of this data. User interface testing (which is different from API testing) is valid for the web service and application to conduct detailed checking of issues and solves these issues, and for the database, the back-end testing is an authentic process. In back-end testing, the general user interface has not required the requests directly pass with some browser which is permanently required. In the user, interface testing is done with the help of the general user interface. The general user interface is for overall functions and not for back-end which deals with database.
The LoadView platform can execute performance tests on your websites, applications, APIs, databases, servers, and more. Sign up for the free trial and get $20 in load testing credits to start!