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Manuals / Performance Testing Basics / Chapter 4

B · Execute · intermediate · Week 2 · Chapter 4 of 9

Script a load test (k6 lite)

Virtual users, thresholds, stages. Start tiny. Grow. Watch errors before celebrating RPS.

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Step 1 of 1

First script

HIT a safe endpoint. Check status. Threshold on http_req_failed and p95.

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Example

import http from 'k6/http';
import { check, sleep } from 'k6';

export const options = {
  stages: [
    { duration: '30s', target: 5 },
    { duration: '1m', target: 5 },
    { duration: '30s', target: 0 },
  ],
  thresholds: {
    http_req_failed: ['rate<0.01'],
    http_req_duration: ['p(95)<800'],
  },
};

export default function () {
  const res = http.get('https://test.k6.io');
  check(res, { 'status 200': (r) => r.status === 200 });
  sleep(1);
}

Do this now

Run a 1-minute smoke. Then a small load stage.

Pro tip: Use test.k6.io or your staging — not random public sites at scale.

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Chapter learning outcomes
  • VUs & iterations
  • Thresholds
  • Stages

Clear these before you leave