By 2021, experts estimate APM software will be monitoring 20% of business applications. The use of this software has been steadily increasing year over year. But why?
Some people aren’t familiar with this software and can’t help wondering what is APM? Continue reading to find out everything a beginner needs to know about application performance monitoring.
What is APM?
APM stands for application performance monitoring. It’s an industry term referring to the monitoring of performance metrics in applications. The performance metrics measured might include dependencies, transaction times, user experience, and application code.
There are different types of APM. Some are metrics-based. These will tell you how many requests your application receives and which URLs are slow, but not why.
Network-based APM can measure your app’s performance based on network traffic. Code-level APM monitors results through codes. This kind of APM can tell you why something is a problem, not just that it is.
Why is Application Monitoring Important?
Application performance monitoring is a solution that helps you understand why transactions in your app are slow or failing. When you’re aware of what is going wrong with your app, you can fix it.
A lot of the guesswork is taken out of the equation. You might realize something is wrong with your application based on a dip in general metrics. It’s only APM that will tell you where exactly the problem is.
Features to Look For in APM Software
Different APM software will offer different features. Different programs might measure different things. Those measurements might be carried out on different levels of depth.
Which features you need will depend on your company’s unique requirements. Generally, however, you’ll want to look for the following features in your APM.
Web Request and Transaction Performance
Some APMs will track the performance of web requests and transactions on an individual level. This will be beneficial when trying to source discrepancies. This data can also be used to figure out whether a problem was with your application or with the user.
Performance Profiling on a Code Level
The ability to receive performance profile information on a code level can help find and fix problems faster. Some APMs will tell you there’s a problem but they can’t tell you where. Code-level performance monitoring can tell you where the issue is coming from.
Application Dependency Information
Some AMPs will monitor application dependency programs and create metrics for their use. This includes information like application memory, CPU, and similar.
Application Logs
Another feature you might want to look for in an application monitoring program is the ability to create and access application logs. This includes logged information on user information, errors, and anything else on the application itself.
For More Information
The information above should have answered the question of “what is APM?” At it’s most basic, this is a software designed to understand why transactions in your application are slow or failing.
For more information, you can read our other blogs.