What's the difference between alpha and beta system testing?

Alpha testing is conducted internally, while beta testing involves real users testing the product in a real environment.

Alpha testing is a type of system testing that is typically conducted by the developers or testers within the organisation that has developed the software. It is performed in a controlled environment and is often the first phase of testing. The main aim of alpha testing is to identify all possible issues and bugs before the product is released to real users. This type of testing is usually performed in a lab environment and doesn't involve real users or real environments. It is a type of acceptance testing that is done before the product goes into the beta phase of testing.

On the other hand, beta testing is a type of system testing where the product is tested by real users in a real environment. It is the second phase of testing and is performed after alpha testing. The product is released to a limited number of end-users to obtain feedback on product quality and to identify any potential issues that were not found during alpha testing. Beta testing can be considered as a form of external user acceptance testing.

The main difference between alpha and beta testing lies in who conducts the testing and where it is conducted. Alpha testing is done internally by the organisation in a controlled environment, while beta testing is done by real users in a real environment. This means that beta testing can often uncover issues that were not identified during alpha testing, as it takes into account the variability and unpredictability of real-world use.

In summary, both alpha and beta testing are crucial stages in the software development process. They each serve a unique purpose and, when used together, can help ensure that a software product is as bug-free and user-friendly as possible before it is officially released.