Beeb

Beeb is a term used in the United Kingdom to refer to two distinct things in popular usage: the BBC Microcomputer, commonly known as the Beeb, and the British Broadcasting Corporation, frequently called the Beeb in informal speech.

The BBC Microcomputer, commonly called the Beeb, is a family of 8-bit personal computers produced by Acorn Computers for the BBC Computer Literacy Project. Introduced in 1981, the Beeb was designed to promote computer education in schools and homes across the UK. It became widely adopted in schools and played a key role in early computer literacy. The machine featured a MOS Technology 6502 processor, a built-in BBC BASIC programming language, and a range of graphics and sound capabilities for its era. It supported external storage through cassette and disk interfaces and offered expansion options via various peripheral ports.

The Beeb line included models such as the BBC Model A and Model B, with later variants like the Model B+ and the Master series, which expanded memory and features. It competed with other 8-bit systems of the time, such as the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64, and contributed to a generation of British programmers who learned to code on these machines.

As slang, "the Beeb" is also a common informal name for the British Broadcasting Corporation, the United Kingdom’s public-service broadcaster. Founded in the early 1920s and funded by a television license fee, the BBC operates multiple television and radio channels, online services, and a global presence. The nickname is widely used in everyday language and media commentary.