{{Redirect|Minecraft Beta|the beta testing program in Bedrock Edition|Bedrock Edition version history/Development versions|the soundtrack album by [[C418]]|Minecraft - Volume Beta}}
{{Infobox development phase
| image = Beta.png
| startver = [[Java Edition Beta 1.0|1.0]] (December 20, 2010)
| currentver = [[Java Edition Beta 1.8.1|1.8.1]] (September 15, 2011)
| paid = Yes: US$18.00/€14.95
| prevparent = Java Edition Alpha
| next = 1.0.0
| nextlink = Java Edition 1.0.0
| nextparent = Full Release
| nextparentlink = Java Edition#Official release
| prev=Java Edition Alpha v1.2
}}

'''Beta''' was the sixth and the final [[Java Edition#Development|development phase]] that succeeded [[Java Edition Alpha|Alpha]] and preceded the [[Full Release|full release of ''Java Edition'']], and was the fifth and final Minecraft development stage to have some of its versions released to the public. It was announced on [[Notch]]'s blog on December 11, 2010, and released nine days later on December 20, 2010.<ref>{{citation|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813083726/https://notch.tumblr.com/post/2175441966/minecraft-beta-december-20-2010|title=Minecraft Beta: December 20, 2010|website=The Word of Notch|date=December 11, 2010}}</ref> As well as some minor updates, the transition from Alpha saw a 50% price increase (therefore making the cost 25% of the full price), a change in the disclaimer (Notch removed the line that said "all future updates will be provided free of charge", though the statement still applies to users who bought ''Minecraft'' before Beta was released. Both Alpha and Beta buyers got the full game free of charge) and minor updates to the main website.

== Features ==
{{for|a full list of changes|Java Edition version history#Beta}}
{{Additions table
|White Wool
|Light Gray Wool
|Gray Wool
|Black Wool
|Brown Wool
|Red Wool
|Orange Wool
|Yellow Wool
|Lime Wool
|Green Wool
|Cyan Wool
|Light Blue Wool
|Blue Wool
|Purple Wool
|Magenta Wool
|Pink Wool
|Cake
|Dispenser
|Lapis Lazuli Ore
|Block of Lapis Lazuli
|Note Block
|Sandstone
|Birch Log
|Birch Leaves
|Spruce Log
|Spruce Leaves
|Cobblestone Slab
|Petrified Oak Slab
|Sandstone Slab
|Smooth Stone
|Red Bed
|Redstone Repeater
|Locked Chest
|Birch Sapling
|Spruce Sapling
|Powered Rail
|Detector Rail
|Cobweb
|Dead Bush
|Shrub
|Short Grass
|Fern
|Oak Trapdoor
|Piston
|Sticky Piston
|Stone Bricks
|Cracked Stone Bricks
|Mossy Stone Bricks
|Infested Stone
|Infested Cobblestone
|Infested Stone Bricks
|Brick Slab
|Brick Stairs
|Stone Brick Stairs
|Glass Pane
|Iron Bars
|Oak Fence Gate
|Vines
|Mushroom Stem
|Red Mushroom Block
|Brown Mushroom Block
|Melon
|Bone
|Bone Meal
|Lapis Lazuli
|Cocoa Beans
|Ink Sac
|Charcoal
|Light Gray Dye
|Gray Dye
|Red Dye
|Orange Dye
|Yellow Dye
|Lime Dye
|Green Dye
|Cyan Dye
|Light Blue Dye
|Purple Dye
|Magenta Dye
|Pink Dye
|Sugar
|Cookie
|Map
|Shears
|Raw Chicken
|Cooked Chicken
|Raw Beef
|Steak
|Ender Pearl
|Melon Seeds
|Melon Slice
|Pumpkin Seeds
|Rotten Flesh
}}
* New ''Minecraft'' [[logo]] and launcher.
* New animated background for main menu.
* [[Achievement]]s and [[statistics]].
* [[Server]]-side [[inventory]].
* [[Creative]] game mode.
* [[Weather]] effects: [[rain]] and [[snow]].
* Rewritten [[biome]] codes.
* More variety in [[tree]]s.
* New [[light]]ing mechanics.
* New graphical effects, including improved sunrise/sunset, water bubbles, [[explosion]]s, and [[void]] particles.
* Naturally generated structures such as [[stronghold]]s, [[mineshaft]]s and [[village]]s.
* New mobs including [[squid]], [[endermen]], [[silverfish]], [[cave spider]]s and tameable [[wolves]].
* New [[health]] mechanic using [[hunger]] and stackable [[food]] items.
* New combat mechanics such as [[critical hit]]s, charged [[bow]]s, [[experience orb]]s, [[sprinting]] and [[blocking]].
* New mechanisms ([[redstone repeater]]s, [[note block]]s, [[dispenser]]s, [[powered rail]]s, [[detector rail]]s, [[trapdoor]]s, improved [[redstone]] look, [[piston]]s, [[sticky piston]]s).
* New [[block]]s and [[recipe]]s, such as [[sandstone]] and the [[lapis lazuli block]].
* New items, such as [[map]]s and [[dye]]s.
* New farming elements: [[melon]]s and [[pumpkin]]s.
* [[Bed]]s for skipping through the night and resetting [[spawn point]].

== Major updates ==
* [[Beta 1.0]]: The first version of Beta, which added server-side inventories and inventory item tooltips.
* [[Beta 1.1]]: Added support for special events on specific dates during the holiday period.
* [[Beta 1.2]]: Added many new blocks, squid, sheep variants, and new trees.
* [[Beta 1.3]]: Added beds, repeaters, and new slabs.
* [[Beta 1.4]]: Added cookies, wolves, and a new ''Minecraft'' logo. Featured the [[locked chest]] as part of an April Fools' joke.
* [[Beta 1.5]]: Added cobwebs, new saplings, new rails, charged creepers, and weather.
* [[Beta 1.6]]: Added variants of tall grass, trapdoors, and maps.
* [[Beta 1.7]]: Added pistons and shears.
* [[Beta 1.8]] ([[Adventure Update]]): Added many features related to adventuring and changed the terrain generation.

== Trivia ==
* Some sound effects in Beta no longer play the old sound effect, instead they play the newer sounds because sounds are not stored in the [[minecraft.jar]] file.
* The first version of ''[[Xbox 360 Edition]]'' was based off of {{vl|JE Beta 1.6.6|}}.
* No major Beta releases are lost.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Betabrowser.png|Beta in minecraft.net/game.
Minecraft Webpage Beta 1.8.1.png
Beta 1.7 server.png|A server in Beta.
Huge Beta Overhang.png|A large overhang, a common occurrence in Beta's terrain generation before Beta 1.8.
Degroot Keep.png|A castle in early Beta.
Beta Town.jpg|A town in mid Beta.
Cactuschoke.png|A [[Mob grinder]] for spiders taken from sometime in Beta
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Java Edition Classic|Classic]]
* [[Indev]]
* [[Infdev]]
* [[Java Edition Alpha|Alpha]]
* [[Java Edition 1.0.0|Minecraft 1.0]]
* [[Locked Chest]]
* [[Biome]]s

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Navigation ==
{{Navbox version history}}

[[cs:Beta]]
[[de:Beta]]
[[es:Java Edition Beta]]
[[fr:Bêta]]
[[hu:Beta]]
[[it:Java Edition Beta]]
[[ja:Java Edition Beta]]
[[ko:베타]]
[[nl:Beta]]
[[pl:Beta]]
[[pt:Edição Java Beta]]
[[ru:Beta (Java Edition)]]
[[tr:Beta]]
[[uk:Beta (Java Edition)]]
[[zh:Java版Beta]]
