Apache Bench (ab) is a load testing and benchmarking tool for Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server. It can be run from command line and it is very simple to use. A quick load testing output can be obtained in just one minute. As it does not need too much familiarity with load and performance testing concepts, therefore it is suitable for beginners and intermediate users.

To use this tool, no complex setup is required. Moreover, it gets installed automatically with Apache web server, or it can be installed separately as Apache utility. It does not have all the features of more popular tools such as jMeter or Grinder, but it is good for a start.

Audience

This tutorial is designed for Application Developers and System Administrators, who are willing to learn Apache Bench in simple and easy steps. This tutorial will give you practical knowledge on Apache Bench, and after completing this tutorial, you will be at an intermediate level of expertise from where you can take yourself to higher level of expertise.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding with this tutorial, you should have a basic understanding of command line interface (CLI), HTTP, text editor and web servers, etc., because you will need these tools to successfully run Apache Bench for load testing. In addition, it will be good if you have knowledge of web development and application testing processes.