What are the differences between Alpha Testing vs Beta Testing? To learn more about the answer read the following blog. Without further ado let’s get started!

Definition of Alpha Testing:

Alpha Testing is one type of acceptance testing that is performed to find out all the potential issues and bugs before releasing the final output to the clients. This test is executed by the testers who are internal employees of the company. The core intention of this testing is to find the tasks that a normal/regular user would perform on the app and test them.

In simple words, it is called alpha testing because it is performed near the end of the development of the software, and before beta testing. The major focus of this testing is to mimic real-time users using black box and white box testing techniques.

Beta Testing:

Now Beta Testing is something that is performed by real-time users in a real-world environment. It is also called external User Acceptance Testing. It’s performed before shipping the app to the user. Direct feedback in this scenario from the users can be a gold mine for the developers. Because beta testing helps the team to test the product in the customer’s environment.

Note, this beta version is enabled to a limited number of users to drive insightful feedback on the product quality. Beta testing ensures that the team won’t suffer massive product failures and rather help in improving the quality of the product through customer validation.

Key differences between Alpha Testing and Beta Testing:

On one hand, Alpha testing is performed by the testers within the organization on the other hand beta testing is performed by the end-users.

Alpha Testing is performed at the developer’s or tester’s site while the Beta Testing takes place at the client’s or user’s location.

Aspects like reliability and security testing are performed in detail in Alpha Testing whereas reliability, security, and robustness are tested during the beta testing.

Alpha Testing involves a combination of both WhiteBox and BlackBox testing whereas in Beta testing the focus is only put on the BlackBox testing.

Alpha testing requires a testing environment which is not mandatory in Beta testing. It takes a long execution cycle for performing alpha testing but beta testing can only take a few weeks to finish.

If any critical issues are found in the alpha testing they are fixed immediately whereas the issues are first collected from the users and then implemented in the Beta Testing.

Entry Criteria for Alpha testing:

• Software requirements documents or Business requirements are needed.
• Test cases for all the requirements are needed to be prepared.
• A skilled team of QA is required to execute all the tests.
• Test Lab environment setup is required.
• A QA Build should be ready for execution.
• There requires a Test Management tool for uploading test cases and logging the bugs.
  A traceability matrix is required for ensuring that every design requirement has test cases that verify them.

Exit Criteria for Alpha testing:

• All the test cases should be executed accordingly and shall be passed.
• Every issue needs to be fixed, closed, and documented for reference.
• A Test Summary report should be prepared and delivered.
• Ensure that no additional features are added.
• A sign-off document on Alpha Testing.

Entrance Criteria for Beta Testing:

• A sign-off document on Alpha Testing is needed.
• The Beta version of the application should be all ready to go.
• Make the environment ready for the beta version to be released to the public.
• Have a tool ready to record the real-time issues.

Exit Criteria for Beta Testing:

• All the small to major issues should be fixed and closed.
• Feedback reports shall be prepared from the public or end-user.
• Beta Test summary report shall be prepared and delivered.

Advantages of Alpha Testing:

• Gives a better understanding of the reliability of the software at a very early stage.
• Aids to mimic the real-time user behavior and environment.
• Helps in finding the small to big bugs or errors.
• It has a unique ability to find out bugs in the early stages in terms of design and functionality.

Advantages of Beta Testing:

• There is a reduced risk of product failures through customer validation.
• Enhances product quality through customer feedback.
• It is very cost-effective when compared to data gathering methods.
• It helps improve customer satisfaction.

Disadvantages of Alpha Testing:

• In detail, functionality can’t be tested as the software is still in the development stages. At times you’ll have to
• witness dissatisfaction with the results of alpha testing.

Disadvantages of Beta Testing:

• Test management becomes an issue. This type of testing is done outside the tester’s or developer’s environment and there is limited control.
• Finding out the best beta users and managing their participation can be quite a challenge.

Conclusion

No matter how many bugs you find and kill and make the app look fancy it all comes down to only one thing: ‘end-user.’ They are the ones who need to like it. And here comes the need for these tests. Alpha and Beta Testing are inevitable in your testing lifecycle.

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