# BETA

> object-oriented programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q830842](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q830842)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BETA_(programming_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/beta

## Summary
BETA is a multi-paradigm, object-oriented programming language that utilizes static typing. Developed by Kristen Nygaard and first appearing in 1992, it is classified as an object-based language designed for communicating instructions to a machine.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** Kristen Nygaard
- **Inception:** 1992
- **Programming Paradigms:** Object-oriented programming; also classified as multi-paradigm and object-based.
- **Typing Discipline:** Static typing.
- **Classifications:** Instance of a programming language, object-based language, and multi-paradigm programming language.
- **Websites:** http://cs.au.dk/~beta (also historically http://daimi.au.dk/~beta).
- **Identifiers:** Library of Congress Authority ID sh93001787; Freebase ID /m/010134.
- **Wikipedia Presence:** Available in 10 language editions (including English, German, Danish, and Spanish).

## FAQs
### Q: Who created the BETA programming language?
A: BETA was developed by Kristen Nygaard, a pioneer in object-oriented programming. The language's inception is recorded as 1992.

### Q: What programming style does BETA use?
A: BETA is a multi-paradigm language with a primary focus on object-oriented programming. It is also technically classified as an object-based language and features a static typing discipline.

### Q: Is BETA strictly an object-oriented language?
A: While primarily object-oriented, BETA is broadly defined as a multi-paradigm programming language. It allows for different approaches but is fundamentally built around object-based principles.

## Why It Matters
BETA is a significant entity in the history of computer science due to its association with Kristen Nygaard, one of the founding figures of object-oriented programming. Emerging in 1992, the language represents a continuation of the Scandinavian school of object-orientation, emphasizing a clean, unified approach to programming concepts.

The language matters to computer science historians and software engineers because it attempts to unify programming paradigms under a single framework, distinct from the more mainstream C++ or Java traditions. Its development by Nygaard connects it directly to the origins of Simula, the first object-oriented language, making BETA a part of the direct lineage of modern software engineering practices. Its static typing system and object-based structure offer a distinct method for instructing machines, contributing to the diversity of language design theories available for study and application.

## Notable For
- **Origin:** Developed by Kristen Nygaard, a distinguished figure in programming language history.
- **Paradigm Unification:** Distinct for being simultaneously classified as object-oriented, object-based, and multi-paradigm.
- **Type Safety:** Notable for its use of static typing within the object-oriented context.
- **Academic Roots:** Associated with Danish academic institutions (indicated by the `.dk` and `au.dk` domains).
- **Global Documentation:** Maintained across multiple global linguistic domains including English, Arabic, and Persian.

## Body

### Development and Origin
BETA is a programming language that was conceptualized and developed by Kristen Nygaard. The language officially came into existence in 1992. Nygaard's involvement anchors the language in the broader history of object-oriented programming, extending the legacy of earlier Scandinavian contributions to the field.

### Technical Specifications
The language is defined by several key technical properties:
*   **Typing:** It employs a **static typing** discipline, meaning type checking is performed at compile-time rather than run-time.
*   **Classification:** It is formally recognized as an **object-based language** and a **multi-paradigm programming language**.
*   **Function:** Its primary function is as a language for communicating instructions to a machine.

### Identity and Records
In addition to its technical definition, BETA is cataloged under various international identifiers:
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID:** sh93001787
*   **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007551435605171
*   **YSO ID:** 14009
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/010134

### Online Presence
The official web resources for BETA are hosted by Aarhus University (au.dk). Historical and current URLs include `http://daimi.au.dk/~beta` and `http://cs.au.dk/~beta`. The entity has a sitelink count of 15 across various Wikipedia languages, including Afrikaans, Arabic, Czech, Danish, German, English, Spanish, Persian, Hungarian, and Italian.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
4. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
5. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)