Apps that crash too often repel more users than attract due to their poor performance. If your app does not work the way it is intended or advertised, it will likely spell trouble for your business. That is where mobile app performance testing can save your app, and your business, from revenue loss and reputation damage.
Performance testing involves the testing of mobile app performance in a variety of scenarios. The conditions are different in terms of several parameters, such as data load and traffic volume. The role this type of testing plays is quite large, as it includes different tests for each of those parameters.
Types of Performance Testing for Mobile Apps
Let us look at the scope of performance testing before understanding its importance in mobile app testing:
Stress Testing: It tests the app under ‘high stress’ conditions to gauge how well it will work under extreme conditions. Examples of high stress are high data load, availability of fewer resources than normal, and unusual amounts of traffic. This makes it easy to spot the app’s limitations and weak aspects.
Load Testing: It involves both normal and high-load environments to analyze the difference in the app’s performance under different load conditions. Testing it like this helps make sure it can handle greater usage once the app gains more users. Also, business owners can identify the app’s capacity and decide when the app will require scaling.
Penetration Testing: Penetration testing for a mobile app is crucial as part of its security assessment. It is done to identify loopholes and help create a comprehensive vulnerability report. The app can then be protected from potential data breaches through appropriate measures.
Soak Testing: This type of testing is used to observe the app’s behavior and performance for prolonged periods. The app is introduced to continuous usage for several hours under high traffic volumes. It helps determine whether the app will be able to handle sudden surges or if it will freeze or crash when being used for too long.
Spike Testing: Spike testing was designed to determine the app’s capacity to work well despite sudden traffic spikes. It subjects the app to such conditions to check if it can handle them without posing problems.
Realizing the Importance of Performance Testing
There are multiple reasons why mobile app performance testing is an essential aspect of the overall testing process:
- It is no secret that users expect their mobile phone and its apps to work flawlessly no matter what device or network carrier they use. It helps meet those expectations by ensuring optimal performance under diverse conditions.
- The goal behind mobile app testing services is to deliver positive user experiences by eliminating slow loading times, freezing, and app crashes. Apps launched without proper performance testing are far more likely to work in an unexpected manner, resulting in negative experiences.
Performance testing plays an important role in preserving the app’s reputation and user engagement. It does this by ensuring consistent performance regardless of high traffic volumes, surges, spikes, poor networks, or limited resources.
- Performance testing improves the app’s overall quality by helping developers work on its stability and responsiveness. People can use the app to their satisfaction, which increases engagement.
- Testing the app’s performance in the initial stages of the development cycle certainly saves everyone a lot of hassle in the long run. Developers also gain the upper hand in this case because they can identify and resolve risks in time to match the users’ performance requirements. It brings the flaws to light when developers are working on it so that they can fix those issues before launch.
Conclusion
The key to a successful app is a high-quality, well-performing one which should always be the goal of developers. Performance testing takes you several steps closer to this goal. As an app owner, you can improve user satisfaction by incorporating mobile app performance testing for a seamless user experience.
