API Load Testing in 2024: 4 Types & Why Load Tests Fail

As digitalization and connectivity among devices and services increase, API‘s importance as a tool for information transmission expands. It is estimated that almost 90% of developers use APIs. 

Despite the benefits of APIs, having a working one is not easy.  40% of API users have experienced some sort of API brokerage. API load testing helps ensure API’s robust performance under different traffic situations. 

In this article, we will explain API load testing, its different types, common failures of load testing, and what they mean for QA specialists and testing experts. 

What is API load testing?

API load testing examines if your API can handle high requests. API load testing simulates real-world conditions and determines performance requirements ahead of time.

API load testing shows:

• The number of requests per second that an API can handle.
• How efficiently the API behaves under high traffic.

For high-traffic applications, load testing is critical to ensure the user experience remains consistent. Exercising your application under different conditions will help you find weaknesses before they affect the end user. 

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4 Types of load test

1-Standard load testing

API is tested against the standard and expected load traffic that it expects to receive in the production stage. The aim is to understand the API behavior under normal situations and if it fulfills the minimum performance requirements ( see Figure 1).

Figure1. Standard load testing

Source: Loadster 

2-Spike testing

In this testing, API receives an average load level with sudden and significant increases ( spikes) that can last for a short or long duration. The aim is to validate if the API satisfies its requirement during spike times ( see Figure 2).

Figure 2. Spike testing 

Source: Loadster

3-Stress testing 

This test will aim to break the API by increasing load in a short period. The aim is to understand the API’s behavior when facing excessive load (see Figure 3). An API under stress can behave differently, like :

• Slowing down,
• Blocking incoming requests,
• Showing HTTP 420/429 error,
• Prioritizing certain operations over others,
• Losing data. 

Figure 3. Stress testing

Source: Loadster 

4-Soak testing

Many APIs, such as e-commerce and stock exchange APIs, have to be run consistently. The soak test is about how the API behaves under a moderate load but in a long time frame. This test aims to identify if the API suffers from memory and resource leakage ( see Figure 4).

Figure 4. Soak testing

Source : Loadster

3 Common load test failures 

1. Scalability bottleneck 

The API response time may lengthen as the load grows. Up to a particular level of load, the API response time can be within the desired range, but once that level is reached, it increases (see Figure 5).  This is an instance of an API with a scalability bottleneck brought on by the exhaustion of finite server resources.

Figure 5. Scalability bottleneck 

Source: Loadster 

The cause of scalability bottleneck can be : 

• Database connection pool,
• Server connection,
• Hardware limitation.
  

Most APIs have a scalability bottleneck at some point, but it is essential to know if the API reaches this bottleneck at what load level. If the load required to hit the bottleneck is much higher than the expected average load, then there might not be a need for fixing it. 

2. Sustain load error problems

This problem can arise when doing a soak test. Initially, there are no problems, but suddenly, many errors arise in different places. However, the load is steady, so a high load does not cause the problem. 

The cause can be : 

• Memory leakage 
• Resource leakage 

Sustain load error problems must be taken seriously as this can also happen in the production stage. 

3. Script-related problems

Not every failure is related to the API. If there are script problems in the test or the data used for testing is faulty, an error can arise. 

If the error is generated in a specific step or operation and the error is happening consistently under a low load level then the problem can be related to your testing script. You should review your script for possible mistakes and bugs. 

4 Best practices for API load testing

1- Automate load testing

Load testing can be automated and have substantial benefits, such as reducing the time and effort required for testing. 

For more on test automation, read Automation Testing: Types, Frameworks, Tools & Best Practices. 

2- Test early

In traditional testing approaches, API load testing is done after the development stage. However, If testing is left until the end of the software development cycle, it can result in last-minute failures that can delay the API deployment and result in higher costs. 

Agile testing and shift left testing on the other hand, push testing to an earlier stage. They have the benefit of Identifying bugs and defects earlier.

3- Validate service level agreement (SLA)

SLA set a minimum performance requirement. The load testing result should meet SLA requirements; if it doesn’t, the code must be reviewed to satisfy the SLA requirements. 

4- Reuse functional testing 

Look for opportunities to reuse functional tests you created for load testing. This is called API functional load testing. This method involves writing API functionality tests and then running them under different load scenarios.  This practice has 2 main benefits : 

• Saving time on test development & execution 
• Evaluating if and how well an API can handle different loads 

Further reading

• API Security Testing: Importance, Automation & Common Issues
• Top 10 Best Practices for Software Testing

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