leaktest

Leaktest, or leak test, is a quality-assurance procedure used to determine whether a sealed object or system develops leaks that allow the passage of gases or liquids. It is applied in industries such as automotive, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, packaging, plumbing, and manufacturing. The term may also describe software testing aimed at identifying memory leaks in applications, though this is usually treated as memory-leak detection rather than a formal test type.

In physical leak testing, methods are chosen by product and required sensitivity. Common approaches include pressure decay tests, which monitor pressure loss over time; vacuum decay tests; and bubble tests, where the item is immersed to observe escaping gas as bubbles. For higher sensitivity, helium or tracer-gas leak testing uses specialized detectors to locate leaks in valves, assemblies, or sealed enclosures. Tests specify pressures, temperatures, durations, and acceptance criteria.

In software, leak testing focuses on memory management. The goal is to detect allocations not released, which can cause increasing memory usage or crashes. Techniques include dynamic analysis with instrumentation, memory profilers, and sanitizers that report leaks during execution, as well as static analysis to flag unmatched allocations. Results guide code fixes, performance tuning, and reliability improvements.

Effective leak testing requires a defined plan, calibrated tools, controlled conditions, and clear criteria. Documentation covers test setup, parameters, observed leak rates, and pass/fail status. Leak testing is typically carried out alongside other quality assurance procedures to ensure product integrity and safety.