Beta Symbol (β) — How to Type, Copy & Paste the Greek Letter

Copy the Beta Symbol

Here are both forms of the beta symbol ready for you to copy and paste:

Β — Capital Beta (U+0392) — Copy this: Β

β — Lowercase Beta (U+03B2) — Copy this: β

Capital Beta — Unicode: U+0392 | HTML entity: Β | CSS: \0392

Lowercase Beta — Unicode: U+03B2 | HTML entity: β | CSS: \03B2

What Does the Beta Symbol Mean?

Beta (Β / β) is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. It evolved from the Phoenician letter beth, which also gave rise to the Hebrew bet and the Latin "B." In the Greek numeral system, beta has a value of 2.

As the second letter, beta naturally represents things that come second or are in a testing phase. In modern usage, "beta" has become practically synonymous with "not yet finished" — a meaning that extends far beyond its original Greek context.

How to Type the Beta Symbol on Windows

• Alt Code (Capital): Hold Alt and type 9 1 4 on the numeric keypad for Β.
• Alt Code (Lowercase): Hold Alt and type 9 4 6 on the numeric keypad for β.
• Character Map: Press Win + R, type charmap, search for "Beta," and copy it.
• Microsoft Word: Type 0392 and press Alt + X for capital, or 03B2 and Alt + X for lowercase.

How to Type Beta on Mac

• Character Viewer: Press Ctrl + Cmd + Space, search for "beta," and double-click to insert.
• Greek Keyboard: Add the Greek keyboard (System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources), switch to it, and press the "b" key for β.
• Copy and Paste: The quickest way — just copy Β or β from this page.

How to Type Beta on iPhone and Android

• iPhone: Add the Greek keyboard (Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard > Greek). Switch keyboards and tap the beta key.
• Android: Install a Greek keyboard from the Play Store. Or simply copy β from this page and paste it wherever you need.

Beta in Finance

The beta symbol is a core concept in modern finance:

• Beta Coefficient (β): In the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), beta measures a stock's volatility relative to the overall market. A beta of 1.0 means the stock moves with the market. A beta above 1.0 indicates higher volatility, while a beta below 1.0 means lower volatility.
• Example: If a stock has a beta of 1.5, it is expected to move 50% more than the market. If the market goes up 10%, the stock would be expected to rise 15%.
• Negative Beta: A negative beta means the asset tends to move in the opposite direction of the market — rare but not impossible (gold and certain inverse ETFs can have negative betas).
• Portfolio Risk: The weighted average beta of all holdings in a portfolio tells you the portfolio's overall market risk exposure.

Beta in Science

• Beta Radiation (β): A form of ionizing radiation consisting of high-energy electrons or positrons. Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a neutron is converted into a proton (or vice versa), emitting a beta particle.
• Beta Particles: These are more penetrating than alpha particles but less than gamma rays. They are used in medical applications like positron emission tomography (PET) scans.
• Beta Function: In mathematics, the beta function (also called the Euler integral of the first kind) is a special function closely related to the gamma function.
• Sound Intensity: In acoustics, β sometimes represents the sound intensity level measured in decibels.

Beta in Software and Technology

• Beta Testing: The term "beta" in software refers to the second major phase of testing, following alpha. Beta software is feature-complete but may contain bugs and is released to a limited audience for feedback.
• Open Beta vs. Closed Beta: An open beta is available to the general public, while a closed beta is restricted to invited testers. Many modern games and apps use open beta as a marketing strategy.
• Beta Version Numbering: Software versions in beta are typically numbered 0.x or 1.0-beta, indicating they have not reached the stable "1.0" release.
• Perpetual Beta: Some web applications remain in "beta" for years (Gmail was famously in beta for over 5 years), reflecting a philosophy of continuous improvement.

Beta in Other Fields

• Star Designation: The second-brightest star in a constellation is designated β (e.g., Beta Orionis, also known as Rigel).
• Brain Waves: Beta waves are brain oscillations in the 13–30 Hz range, associated with active, focused thinking and alertness.
• Beta Carotene: A red-orange pigment found in plants and fruits, named using the Greek letter because it was the second form of carotene discovered.
• Social Hierarchy: "Beta" is used to describe someone who is subordinate in a social group, following the alpha.

Quick Reference Table

From measuring stock risk to naming software testing phases to describing radioactive particles, the beta symbol is deeply woven into modern life. Bookmark this page to quickly copy Β and β whenever you need them.