Date First Published: 1st December 2023
Topic: Computer Systems
Subtopic: Computer Software
Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions
Difficulty: MediumDifficulty Level: 4/10
Learn about what beta software is in this article.
Beta software is a pre-release of software that is in the process of being tested. It is not officially released and may contain bugs or performance issues and lack features that will be included in the final release. Beta software is tested by a large group of users, usually outside the organisation that developed it.
Some beta software may only be made available to a selected number of users, whilst others may be available to the public. Unlike regular software, not all beta software is available to be downloaded or purchased. Open beta software is free for anyone to download and install without an invite from the developers, whilst closed beta software can only be accessed by an invitation and requires permission.
The purpose of beta software is to allow beta testers to try out the software, provide feedback to the developer, and discuss their experience using the software. Beta testing feedback might just include bugs or other issues that testers experience, but it is also an opportunity for the developer to take suggestions for features and other ideas for improving the software. Beta software is also useful for demonstrations and previews within an organisation and to potential users.
Multiple beta versions of the software are often released. Each version is usually labelled with the final version number and the beta version identifier, which includes bug fixes and updates that have been made in response to user feedback. The beta version can last a few weeks to several months, depending on the size and complexity of the software.
Beta software can be unstable and come with bugs, vulnerabilities, and inaccuracies that have not yet been discovered by beta testers. These can affect user experience and compromise data integrity. Sometimes, running beta software can cause a computer to freeze and crash due to instability. Since beta software may not function as expected, it often comes with a disclaimer that users should use the software at their own risk.
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