Scalability Testing

March 13, 2020

What is Scalability Testing?

Scalability testing is a type of performance testing that ensures the flexibility of the software product or application to grow in proportion to increasing demands of the end users.

The main objective of carrying out scalability testing is to evaluate the adaptability potential of the software to grow along with and adjust itself to these requirements, in order to work effectively without any problematic issues. In addition, it also delivers the information regarding software's threshold limit up to which, it can be scaled up.

system's scalability

Scalability is one of the non-functional attributes of a software application. Thus, scalability testing may be seen as one of the forms of non-functional testing methodologies to ensure the scalable quality of the system.

Need of Scalability Testing

It guarantees the smooth functioning of the software application after its upgrade to efficiently meet the rising needs of end users without any issues. It provides solution to the queries like

Whether the software has the ability to grow and upgrade according to growing requirements?
After the event of upgrade(s), if software is functioning correctly and smoothly in meeting the user requirements and expectations.
Whether any changes in the software may lead to its failure or breakdown?

Targeted Areas under Scalability Testing

Scalability testing methodology focuses on following software attributes:

scalability testing areas

How Scalability Testing is Carried out?

Firstly, assess the present and expected future growing potential of the software.
Build up test scenarios, plans and cases that cover and evaluate the working of the software for each incremental growth.

Note: While developing scalability tests, it is preferred and recommended to increase load in increments for subsequent stages to test system at very basic level to advanced stage. Further, test environment needs to be constant and fixed for each different increasing load

scalability testing process

Thereafter, execute these test cases in a systematic way.
Record and report the results.

Features of Scalability Testing

It is a type of performance as well as non-functional testing.
Ensures the capability of software to scale up with the increasing work load and data traffic.
Test Cases are designed and executed in a well-organized manner.
Generally, it involves set of load tests with different settings of hardware and software, keeping test environment unchanged.
Scalability testing increases the confidence in a software product to meet the future growth demands.
Early exposure to defects saves both time and money.
Focuses on specific aspects of the software application such as request and response time, performance w.r.t. number of users or increase in database size, output relative to input, frequency of transactions, usage of network, memory and CPU.
Demands high level of testing knowledge and skills.

In the era of globalization, every organization wishes to grow, to mark its global presence, and this progress necessitates concurrent and adaptive growth of the software. Scalability testing works as an effective tool, to assist the software applications to go along with the greater and rising needs of the users.