The TPC benchmark suite consists of a set of standardized tests that measure the performance of transaction processing and database systems. Developed by the Transaction Processing Performance Council (TPC), these benchmarks are designed to evaluate a system's ability to handle various workloads typical of database and transaction processing applications. The suite includes various benchmarks such as TPC-C, TPC-H, and TPC-V, each tailored to assess different aspects of database performance, like transaction throughput, query processing speed, and decision support capabilities.
TPC-C is one of the most well-known benchmarks in the suite, simulating an online transaction processing (OLTP) environment. It involves multiple interconnected tables and simulates real-world operations such as new order placements, payment processing, and stock level checks. This benchmark measures how many transactions a system can process in a given timeframe while ensuring data integrity and accuracy. Similarly, TPC-H focuses on decision support systems by examining complex queries against a large volume of data to assess how quickly a database can deliver answers while maintaining performance under heavy load.
Developers and technical professionals can use TPC benchmarks to compare the performance characteristics of different database systems or configurations. By analyzing the results of these benchmarks, organizations can make informed decisions about which database technology best meets their operational needs. Moreover, using TPC standards provides a common ground for discussions about database performance, helping teams set expectations and objectives for system scalability and performance optimization.