Alpha testing and beta testing are two types of user acceptance testing that help in building confidence to launch a product and thereby result in the success of the product in the market. Both tests are based on the feedback of real users and different teams and are achieved through different functionalities and techniques. The main differences between alpha and beta testing are:
Alpha Testing
- Performed by testers within the organization
- Performed at the developers site
- Involves both white box and black box testing
- Focuses on functionality and usability
Beta Testing
- Performed by users who are not part of the organization
- Performed in the users environment
- Commonly uses black-box testing
- Tests usability, functionality, security, and reliability to the same depth
Alpha testing is done before releasing the product to real users or to the public, while beta testing is performed by real users of the software application in a real environment. Alpha testing is one of the user acceptance tests, while beta testing is one type of user acceptance testing.
