Overview
While load testing checks if the system works under expected load, stress testing checks what happens under extreme load. It is used to identify the 'breaking point' of the system.
Goals
- Ensure the system fails gracefully (no data corruption).
- Verify that the system can recover once the load is reduced.
- Identify which components fail first under pressure.
Context
Often involves testing with massive numbers of users, huge data volumes, or restricted resources (low memory/CPU).