What does performance testing assess?

Performance testing primarily focuses on evaluating how a system behaves under various conditions, particularly in terms of speed, responsiveness, and stability when subjected to different levels of load. Specifically, it aims to understand how well the system can handle simultaneous users or requests, how quickly it processes those requests, and how stable it remains when faced with high traffic or data volume.

This type of testing is crucial for ensuring that users have a positive experience with the application, as it highlights areas where the application may become slow or unresponsive, which can significantly affect user satisfaction. By measuring these performance metrics—such as throughput, response time, and resource utilization—teams can identify bottlenecks and optimize the system accordingly.

The other choices, while related to software quality, do not capture the specific intent of performance testing. They cover aspects like functionality, security, and user experience, which are distinct areas of focus in software testing, but they do not address performance characteristics.