What is a closed beta and a open beta

A beta software release is a version of an application which is incomplete, and is supposed to perform as would the final version, but without any guarantee of sustained or intended functionality. Its release is intended to reveal the extent to which its functionality cannot be sustained or relied upon, and is used to indicate how best to finalise it.

An open beta version is one released to the general public, intended to provide the functionality, whilst also using arising errors to fix existing issues in the application.

A close beta version is one released to a select group for the same purpose, and is often preferred for commercial packages, so that a free beta does not become publically available, allowing customers to evade the purchase of the product.