# What is Load Testing and Why Should You Implement It ![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RtlCDsm0s2WWRyXMv_1UURHNOms8AEUSRauxBMXaY6PYxC8vfjPlWl4uwy8vMuQ_brmbrAujSt8veJ3NTweZW5juKi84lhknxvb76azY3gpmcE09N6Ah4tVlXLOUjl30vaQBBDh8-zZee-T95fH_7wk) Photo by [Sigmund](https://unsplash.com/@sigmund?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/testing?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) As a software development project nears completion, it has almost definitely been subjected to a number of tests, particularly in extreme testing environments where testing and development occur concurrently. There's only one way to tell if your software can withstand the pressures that your end customers will soon put on it: load testing. What is Load Testing? --------------------- Load testing is one of the several methods of performance testing. Load testing is used to verify a system's performance under real-world settings. Load testing is a software testing procedure that assesses the performance of a software application under a certain expected load. [JMeter](https://www.blazemeter.com/blog/jmeter-tutorial) Load Testing is a testing technique that uses Apache JMeter, a Java-based open source desktop software. It determines if the web application under test can handle high demand. It also helps in examining the entire server under high demand. Load testing is used to improve performance and verify the stability and seamless operation of software applications prior to deployment. How it Works ------------ A load test can be performed on whole IT systems or on smaller components such as database servers or firewalls. [Reaction time](https://scoutapm.com/blog/application-performance-metrics-you-need-why) is used to evaluate a system's or component's speed or capability. When system components significantly increase reaction times or become unstable, the system has most certainly hit its maximum functioning capacity. When this occurs, bottlenecks should be identified and it should be fixed. Why Should You Implement Load Testing? -------------------------------------- Benefits of [load testing](https://stackify.com/what-is-load-testing/) include the ability to identify bottlenecks prior to production, scalability, a decrease in system downtime, an increase in customer satisfaction, and reduction in failure costs. ### Discover bottlenecks  Before deploying a piece of software or a website, evaluate it to identify bottlenecks and solve them before they incur huge real-world expenses. ### Improve system's scalability Load testing can help to determine the working capability of an application. This can help determine the infrastructure requirements as the system grows.  ### Reduce risk of system downtime Testing may be used to discover scenarios that may result in a failure. This makes it an excellent tool for predicting and resolving high-traffic problems before they occur in the real world.  ### Reduce failure cost Identifying issues as early as feasible, especially before launch, reduces the cost of failures. After-launch failures, on the other hand, might entail exponentially higher costs. JMeter Performance Testing -------------------------- Before we go further into the load testing process, make sure the [tool](https://jmeter.apache.org/download_jmeter.cgi) is installed on your system. ### Adding a Thread Group To begin, open the JMeter window. The window is split into two halves. The left side contains all of the newly added elements, while the right side contains all of the element's settings. Save the test plan after renaming it. Let us now rename it to FirstJMeter. Now, right-click on the test plan and then choose Properties. Last but not least, Go to Threads (Users) -> Thread Group -> Add. ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/99XKjeFfjXMhHMLrEdHm8dJ-QD4PnUFAOhGYUwLgW_zo726auQm9gDLPbFwNRdTUbWH3aZ9N529WXKmegLWn8pcTsqDvNd2qdebhRP0mAhabYvr6FHBzreAzQtVL76ILYwFzIre-f5jQHYaYpRonYIM) From the Thread Group properties dialogue box, you may also change the following settings:  **Number of Threads** (Users) - 5 **Ramp-up period** (in seconds) - 1 **Loop Count** (test iterations) - 100 ![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Z_FZH1Zu3TYA2IGUXJo2ReDCKyWIst_JpoyUll1VyLGzfAT2Kmh9BC0eMk9vCurhReDCVL9yeYkNmW8ftyfqrONTlQW9sKTcZ9X9oIb1YzoRBkgZOygG6WVSK7KMgyswC2j2jfzcJ__7v-5G6FtYSTM) ### Add an HTTP Request Defaults  By right-clicking on Thread Group and choosing Add > Config Element > HTTP Request Defaults, this element may be added. ![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/o94iOgjs13cqFW_lHiATPjZAl564l1uQ-ifdKmx0Otk1TRkZ5XKRdyCDgNGOGvhSqjkZMpyK7IDKw7b3xXRhSaiHUF3g1oZ3aeFLw38e_a4dFgKX9eVkfrfdRuTu6V6cLYRzZDdKqbhCmbbPOuaq-zE) Type the name of the test website into the HTTP Request Defaults control box. ### Add an HTTP Request Sampler First, right-click on Thread Group. Then, choose HTTP Request from the Add > Sampler menu. ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bY0EdnVUncfveRPwTWOFWgCMH5vLk3vWGO1BIOrkW6q4f4zWhrvtBqnMpLJ18NVVEYRAzvrt8LvBZeAhFzNBjN-LQvKvD72d7VBrPstUojgMy9OM29Co9UFFgoO4u8ihLN1RP1UKgiNRm-vcOiTjwVc) The path that each thread or user will request is provided under the HTTP Request section. To allow each thread to visit the server's home page, we will set it to be "/".  ### Run Your JMeter Test Your JMeter Test Plan will be complete once you have configured your Listener(s), and you can then launch your load test using JMeter. There are several ways to execute your JMeter test, but you must first save your test plan. #### Adding Graph Result The test result can also be displayed by JMeter in graph format. In the Test Plan menu, select Add > Listener > Graph Results.  Start the software testing procedure by pressing the Run button on the Toolbar. The test results will be displayed on Graph in real time. There would be 4 different kinds of graphs.  Black: The total number of samples sent thus far.  Blue: The average of the most recent samples sent.  Red: Current standard deviation.  Green: Throughput rate, or the number of requests the server processed each minute. ### Review and Analyze your JMeter Test Results As your JMeter test is running, you may check the results. For instance, if you chose View Results in Table, the results would be shown when each run or user was carried out. Why Use JMeter for Load Testing ------------------------------- There are several load testing programmes available, such as WebLOAD, LoadNinja, and others.  JMeter provides numerous benefits to its users over its competitors. it is **free of cost**. It is an open-source programme with no licensing fees. Secondly, the software has record and playback options, as well as a drag-and-drop capability, which makes the application quicker and easier to use. Third, JMeter has all kinds of performance tests including stress testing, web service testing, and distributed testing. Finally, JMeter is customizable. JMeter may be customized at anytime because it is an open-source programme. Best Practices for Load Testing ------------------------------- The best practices for load testing are listed below.  ### Identify business goals. A firm grasp of future goals for breadth and volume will help to shape your approach.  ### Determine critical performance indicators. Establish the parameters for tracking. Reaction times, user load limits, and business performance metrics are just a few of the requirements that must be satisfied. ### Understand your environment. Consider the many deployments you would wish to test. Create configurations that are similar to standard production. Test various system capabilities such as security, hardware, software, and networks. ### Create a test case. Make sure to include both favorable and unfavorable outcomes when creating a test case. Test cases need to be precise and requirement-trailable. ### Run tests in stages. During these tests, the system will finally malfunction. Finding out what volume fails and highlighting what fails first are two crucial goals. Conclusion ---------- Load testing is a sort of software testing that assesses how well a system performs under real-world load situations. Load testing before the software is sent to production eliminates performance bottlenecks and increases the application's scalability and stability. This testing helps identify system bottlenecks and the maximum operational capability of the application.