Stress testing is a form of testing that is used to determine the stability of a given system or entity. It involves testing beyond normal operational capacity, often to a breaking point, in order to observe the results. For example, a web server may be stress tested using scripts, bots, and various denial of service tools to observe the performance of a web site during peak loads. Stress testing a subset of load testing.
Also see testing, software testing, performance testing.
In a medical context a Cardiac stress test is used most commonly to detect marked imbalances in blood flow to the heart muscle, sometimes other issues.
Production and manufacturing