What is the main purpose of conducting Endurance Testing on software applications?

Endurance testing, also known as soak testing, focuses on assessing how a software application performs over an extended period under a specific workload. The main purpose of this type of testing is to ensure that the application can maintain its functionality and performance without degradation over time, even when subjected to constant use.

During endurance testing, various metrics such as memory usage, CPU load, and response times are monitored to determine if any issues arise after prolonged operation. This process helps in identifying potential memory leaks, resource allocation issues, or other problems that might not be immediately apparent during shorter tests. It ensures that the application remains stable, responsive, and functional throughout its lifecycle, which is crucial for applications expected to operate continuously, such as web servers or online services.

While identifying performance during extreme conditions and measuring response times can be important aspects of performance testing, they do not encapsulate the primary objective of endurance testing. Instead, endurance testing is specifically designed to address the long-term reliability and stability of an application under sustained load.