📌 What is Spike Testing?

Spike Testing is a performance testing method where an application is suddenly exposed to extreme increases and decreases in user load. The goal is to analyze how the system handles unexpected traffic spikes and how quickly it recovers.

🎯 Goals of Spike Testing

• Measure system performance under sudden load changes

• Determine the recovery time after a spike

• Identify potential weaknesses in the application

🛠 How to Perform Spike Testing?

1️⃣ Determine Load Capacity – Identify the maximum user load.

2️⃣ Set Up Test Environment – Configure tools to monitor performance.

3️⃣ Apply Expected Load – Simulate normal user traffic.

4️⃣ Increase Load Rapidly – Introduce a sudden spike.

5️⃣ Reduce Load Gradually – Return traffic to normal.

6️⃣ Analyze Results – Evaluate failures, response time, and recovery.

🔥 Real-Life Examples

• 🛒 Black Friday Sales – Massive user surges on eCommerce platforms.

• 📺 Live Streaming Events – A spike in viewers for a trending show.

• ⚡ System Restart – Users logging in simultaneously after an outage.

🔄 Recovery Strategies

✔ Auto-Scaling – Use cloud services (AWS, Azure) to manage load.

✔ Traffic Control – Limit access when the system reaches max capacity.

✔ Performance Warnings – Inform users about slow response times.

🛠 Popular Tools

• JMeter 🏗 – Open-source tool for load testing.

• LoadRunner 💻 – A powerful tool for performance testing.

🏁 Conclusion

Spike Testing ensures a system remains stable even under unexpected load surges. Though it requires specialized setups, it helps prevent failures in critical situations. 🚀