View run timeline in performance tests

The Execution tab provides a real-time timeline of how your performance test run is processed, so you can understand each stage of the run, from initial request handling to completion. It’s available for performance tests run in the Postman Cloud, and for tests run from the Postman app that use setup and teardown collections. Without setup and teardown collections, this tab isn’t available for tests run from the Postman app.

View the run timeline

To view the run timeline for a performance test run, do the following:

1. In the left sidebar, click Items, then click a collection.
2. Click Runs, then click the Performance tab to view performance test runs for the collection.
3. Click the performance test run you want to view.
4. Click the Execution tab.

The Execution tab displays a timeline of the run by each stage, and the duration of each stage.

Understand run stages

The Execution tab groups the lifecycle of a performance test into stages. Which stages appear, and in what order, depends on where you run the test and whether it uses setup and teardown collections:

• Starting — Postman accepts the run request and begins preparing the test.
• Setting up — Postman prepares the resources required to run the test.
• Scaling — Postman provisions and prepares the infrastructure needed for the configured load.
• Setup — The setup collection runs and completes before the test starts.
• Running — The performance test runs and sends requests according to the configured load profile.
• Teardown — The teardown collection runs after the test ends.
• Wrapping up — The test finishes running and Postman processes the final results.

Monitor run progress

The run stages display the current state of the performance test and indicate whether each stage is pending, in progress, or completed.

Use this view to:

• Track progress — Monitor how the test advances through each stage of execution.
• Identify delays — Determine whether a run is spending an unexpected amount of time in a particular stage.
• Understand run status — Check whether the test is setting up, running, or completing.

Review activity log events

The activity log displays events generated throughout the lifecycle of the performance test run.

You can filter events by run stage or status, or search for specific events. Use the activity log to understand what occurred during the run and to help investigate unexpected behavior or delays. Each event includes a timestamp and additional context about the operation that occurred.