Beta Testing is also known as field testing. It takes place at customer’s site. It sends the system/software to users who install it and use it under real-world working conditions.

• 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 testing 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.

• The goal of beta testing is to place your application in the hands of real users outside of your own engineering team to discover any flaws or issues from the user’s perspective that you would not want to have in your final, released version of the application. Example: Microsoft and many other organizations release beta versions of their products to be tested by users.

Open and closed beta:
Developers release either a closed beta or an open beta;

• Closed beta versions are released to a select group of individuals for a user test and are invitation only, while
• Open betas are from a larger group to the general public and anyone interested. The testers report any bugs that they find, and sometimes suggest additional features they think should be available in the final version.

Advantages of beta testing

• You have the opportunity to get your application into the hands of users prior to releasing it to the general public.
• Users can install, test your application, and send feedback to you during this beta testing period.
• Your beta testers can discover issues with your application that you may have not noticed, such as confusing application flow, and even crashes.
• Using the feedback you get from these users, you can fix problems before it is released to the general public.
• The more issues you fix that solve real user problems, the higher the quality of your application when you release it to the general public.
• Having a higher-quality application when you release to the general public will increase customer satisfaction.
• These users, who are early adopters of your application, will generate excitement about your application.

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• What is Usability testing in software and it’s benefits to end user?
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• What is a Defect Life Cycle or a Bug lifecycle in software testing?