Beta testing is a critical component in the product development lifecycle. It’s typically the final step of assessment before a product or feature is released publicly. The primary purpose of beta testing is to evaluate the software's functionality, performance, and stability, identify bugs, and gather feedback from a trusted audience. It’s also leveraged in the product validation and testing process to fix usability and gauge early product-market fit.
Beta testing is performed by a select group of end-users, potential customers, or, in some cases, paid beta testers. How and where you choose beta testers is important because to have a successful beta test—and thus, feature rollout—you want to ensure that the feature is tested by a diverse group of users representing a range of use cases and backgrounds.
Beta testing usually begins after the feature update has passed internal testing and quality assurance (QA). Beta testers are given access to the software or early access to a feature and are tasked with testing it on their own, providing feedback and suggestions, and reporting any issues they encounter. The feedback beta testers offer is crucial when it comes to building valuable software, as it gives product teams real insights into the user experience.
