software developer's initial release of a program to test for bugs and to receive feedback. Typically, the alpha test has a large number of errors in it. (See beta testing.)

In-house testing of a software product.

If a new product is released for testing to a company's own employees before exposing it outside the company, then the product is said to be under alpha testing.

Testing of a software product or system conducted at the developer's site by the end user.

The first testing software is put through, usually by the programmer.

Simulated or actual operational testing at an in-house site not otherwise involved with the software developers.

an engineering term for prototype product testing, primarily in-house. Prototypes are typically not “production” models. i.e. they may have been built by Engineering, and subsequent changes before beta testing are not unexpected. (Also see beta testing.)

Testing conducted internally by the manufacturer, alpha testing takes a new product through a protocol of testing procedures to verify product functionality and capability.

Testing of an early, feature-complete product by internal resources.