Alpha

Alpha may refer to any of the following:

1. An alpha is an early test version of a computer program or hardware device that comes before the beta test in the software release life cycle. Alpha testing is done by the developer of the program or manufacturer of the hardware. Developers often only test parts or specific features that may eventually make it into the final product. At the end of the alpha cycle, a project is said to be feature complete. When it enters the beta stage, it's often released to a select few testers or end-users outsides the company.

Why is it called alpha?

Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.

2. When describing color, the "A" in ARGB, RGBA, and HSLA, is short for alpha and is the level of transparency of the color.

3. Alpha is also short for alphabet to describe any letters (e.g., a, b, c, d, etc.).

Alpha founding, Alphanumeric, Beta, Computer abbreviations, Game terms, RC, Software terms