An "alpha version" is an early stage of software development that is released to a limited audience for testing. This version is typically not feature-complete and may contain numerous bugs. The primary goal of an alpha version is to gather feedback from users and identify issues before moving on to more polished versions. During the alpha testing phase, developers often work closely with testers to refine the software. This process helps ensure that the final product, often referred to as the beta version, is more stable and user-friendly. Alpha versions are crucial for improving the overall quality of software before its public release.