Stress test (computer)

In computing, a stress test is a protocol test designed to find the maximum tolerance of a system to overloads, such as trying to connect more than the maximum allowed number of terminals, processing more than the allowed number of static level identifiers or disconnect a communication link.

The purpose of stress testing is to determine the limitations of the system and, when the system fails, to determine the manner in which the failure manifests itself.

Stress testing can provide valuable insight into the strength and weakness of a system. Stress tests are derived from the requirements, the design, and the designers' hunches and intuitions.