What is the difference between alpha testing and beta testing?

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What is the difference between alpha testing and beta testing?

The main difference between alpha testing and beta testing lies in the stage at which they are conducted and the participants involved.

Alpha testing is performed by the internal development team before the software is released to external users. It is conducted in a controlled environment, typically within the organization's premises. The purpose of alpha testing is to identify and fix any defects or issues in the software before it reaches the beta testing phase. The participants in alpha testing are usually the developers, testers, and other members of the development team.

On the other hand, beta testing is conducted by external users or customers in a real-world environment. It is performed after the alpha testing phase and aims to gather feedback from a diverse user base. Beta testing helps in identifying any usability issues, compatibility problems, or other issues that may have been missed during alpha testing. The participants in beta testing are typically volunteers or selected users who are willing to provide feedback on the software.

In summary, alpha testing is an internal testing phase conducted by the development team, while beta testing involves external users testing the software in a real-world setting.