# Firefox Beta

> beta version of Firefox

**Wikidata**: [Q107559160](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107559160)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/firefox-beta

## Summary
Firefox Beta is the beta version of the Mozilla Firefox web browser, classified as free software. It is developed by the Mozilla Corporation, an American software company. This edition serves as a testing release of the standard Firefox browser prior to general availability.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** Mozilla Corporation.
- **Official Name:** Firefox Beta.
- **Aliases:** Mozilla Firefox Beta.
- **Software Class:** Free software (allows users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it).
- **Instance of:** Web browser.
- **Edition Type:** Beta version of Firefox (edition or translation of Q698).
- **Logo History:** Used a specific "Firefox Beta logo" starting in 2017, updated in 2019.
- **Developer Origin:** Mozilla Corporation is a US-based company (Headquarters: San Francisco, CA) founded in 2005.

## FAQs
### Q: Who develops Firefox Beta?
A: Firefox Beta is developed by the Mozilla Corporation, an American software company headquartered in San Francisco, United States.

### Q: Is Firefox Beta free to use?
A: Yes, Firefox Beta is classified as free software, meaning it is distributed under terms that allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it.

### Q: What is the difference between Firefox and Firefox Beta?
A: Firefox Beta is a specific edition or translation of the main Firefox web browser (identified in databases as Q698) intended for testing purposes before the stable release.

## Why It Matters
Firefox Beta serves a critical role in the software development lifecycle of one of the world's major web browsers. As a "beta" release, it bridges the gap between internal developer versions and the stable release used by millions globally. By classifying this software as "free software," it provides users with liberties often restricted in proprietary software: the ability to study, change, and distribute the code. This aligns with the ethos of its developer, the Mozilla Corporation, which has operated from the United States since 2005. The existence of a distinct Beta channel allows for real-world testing of features, stability, and security patches in diverse environments, ensuring the integrity of the main Firefox ecosystem. It is a distinct product entity with its own branding history, including specific logos utilized between 2017 and 2019.

## Notable For
- Being the specific pre-release testing build of the Firefox web browser.
- Classification as "Free Software," guaranteeing user liberties to modify and redistribute.
- Development by the Mozilla Corporation, a significant entity in the open-source software industry.
- Distinct visual branding history, with specific logos launched in 2017 and 2019.

## Body
### Developer Profile
Firefox Beta is maintained by the **Mozilla Corporation**, an American company in the software industry.
- **Inception:** The corporation was founded in September 2005.
- **Headquarters:** The company is currently headquartered in **San Francisco, California** (specifically at 2 Harrison Street, ZIP 94105). This location was established as the "most recent value" starting in January 2021.
- **Previous Location:** Prior to 2021, the headquarters were located in Mountain View, California (331 East Evelyn Avenue).

### Software Classification and Identity
The entity is officially named **Firefox Beta**, though it is also aliased as **Mozilla Firefox Beta**.
- **Type:** It is an instance of a **web browser** and **free software**.
- **Definition:** As free software, it is distributed under terms that permit users to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software and its modified versions.
- **Relationship:** It is an edition or translation of the parent entity Firefox (referenced as Q698).

### Branding and Visuals
The application has maintained distinct logos throughout its lifecycle to differentiate it from the stable release:
- **2017–2019:** Utilized a logo file identified as `Firefox_Beta_logo,_2017.svg`.
- **2019–Present:** Adopted the current logo identified as `Firefox_beta_logo.png`.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/channel/desktop/#beta)
2. [Source](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/beta/notes/)