Homonym: beta (Version)
"Beta" refers to a stage in the development of a product, particularly in software. During the beta phase, a product is released to a limited audience for testing. This allows developers to gather feedback, identify bugs, and make improvements before the final version is launched.
In finance, "beta" measures the volatility of an investment compared to the overall market. A beta greater than 1 indicates that the investment is more volatile than the market, while a beta less than 1 suggests it is less volatile. This concept helps investors assess risk and make informed decisions about their portfolios.