Learn in the textbookTest Techniques and Integration/Performance Verification
DefinitionLoad testing (負荷テスト) raises simultaneous access or data volume up to the expected maximum and beyond, to see whether the system keeps running and where its processing limit lies.
ExplanationIt is a kind of performance testing (性能テスト) that raises the number of accesses and the data volume step by step, watching how responses slow down and where processing can no longer keep up. It may also check whether the system returns errors without corrupting data once the limit is passed, and whether it gets back to its original speed when the load drops.
AnalogyIt is like a bridge load test: you add weights a little at a time and note the weight at which the deck suddenly starts to sag much more.