Chapter 2 – Testing Throughout the SDLC
Performance Testing – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
Testing to determine the performance efficiency of a component or system.
In simple words
How fast, how many users, how stable under load — response time, throughput, resource usage.
Exam tip
Load, stress, endurance, spike and scalability testing are all sub-types of performance testing.
Related terms
- Non-Functional TestingHow fast, how secure, how usable, how reliable — the ‘qualities’ around the feature, not the feature itself.
- Security TestingTrying to break in, leak data, or escalate privileges — before an attacker does.
- Test EnvironmentThe setup where tests run — servers, browsers, DBs, feature flags — ideally close to production.
Practice this term in the ISTQB Mock Test
40 CTFL v4.0 questions, 60-minute timer, instant scoring and chapter-wise breakdown.
Practice in Mock Test