What type of testing would involve subjecting a system to extreme operational conditions?

Stress testing is a specific type of performance testing that focuses on evaluating how a system behaves under extreme conditions. This includes scenarios such as heavy loads or abnormal stress levels, which can be significantly higher than typical operational conditions. The goal of stress testing is to determine the system's stability, ensure it can handle unexpected spikes in user activity or workload, and identify potential breaking points.

By doing so, developers can assess the robustness and reliability of the system, ensuring that it not only functions adequately under normal circumstances but also remains operational during peak loads or challenging situations. This form of testing is crucial in scenarios where system failure can have serious implications, as it helps to uncover weaknesses that may not appear under routine testing conditions.

In contrast, unit testing focuses on individual components or functions, integration testing assesses the compatibility and interactions between different units or systems, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is conducted to validate the system’s usability and functionality from an end-user perspective. Each of these testing methods serves distinct purposes and does not specifically target the system's performance under extreme conditions like stress testing does.