Synthetic testing is an IT process that simulates real-user behavior within applications to identify and diagnose potential performance issues before they affect actual users. It involves using software to mimic user activities, such as sending multiple resource requests to assess an application's responsiveness and performance under different conditions. This type of testing, also known as continuous or synthetic monitoring, can be conducted in both production and test environments and requires minimal resources, allowing for continuous operation. Unlike real user monitoring (RUM), which measures actual user interactions after deployment, synthetic testing provides insights during the development phase, helping teams to proactively address potential problems. There are three main types of synthetic testing: availability, web performance, and transaction testing, each with specific strengths and applications. Effective synthetic testing requires clearly defined goals, customizable robot clients, and comprehensive tools that simulate user interactions across different platforms. Best practices include reducing setup complexity, prioritizing continuous monitoring, and integrating synthetic testing into a broader observability strategy to ensure complete visibility and context. By combining synthetic testing with real user monitoring, such as the services offered by Dynatrace, organizations can enhance application performance and improve user experience, ultimately driving better business outcomes.