In software development, a beta test is the second phase of software testing
in which a sampling of the intended audience tries the product out. (Beta
is the second letter of the Greek alphabet.) Originally, the term alpha
test meant the first phase of testing in a software development process.
The first phase includes unit testing, component testing, and system testing.
Beta testing can be considered "pre-release testing." Beta test
versions of software are now distributed to a wide audience on the Web partly
to give the program a "real-world" test and partly to provide
a preview of the next release.
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