Load testing is a type of performance testing that assesses the performance and behavior of a software application or system under a specific load or workload. The primary objective of load testing is to determine how the application behaves under expected and peak usage conditions, helping identify performance bottlenecks, system limitations, and areas for improvement. Load testing is particularly important for ensuring that a software application can handle the expected user traffic without crashing, slowing down, or experiencing other performance-related issues.