How to load test a website: A comprehensive guide

The comprehensive guide to load testing websites by Grafana Labs emphasizes the importance of simulating real user traffic to enhance reliability and successfully release new code. It distinguishes between frontend and backend performance testing, highlighting the necessity to test both for optimal user experience and system performance. It discusses various testing approaches such as protocol-based, browser-based, and hybrid scripts, and the differences between component and end-to-end testing. The guide underscores the need to tailor load testing strategies to the specific application being tested, recommending best practices for scripting, executing tests, and considering factors like test environment and load generator location. Additionally, it provides insights into the use of tools like k6 for both protocol and browser-based testing, advocating for a balanced approach that combines backend infrastructure testing with frontend user experience assessments to prevent performance bottlenecks and ensure comprehensive evaluation.