Zwischenversion

Zwischenversion, literally “intermediate version,” is a German term used in software and hardware development to designate an intermediate build released between major releases. The word combines Zwischen (between, intermediate) with Version (version). In practice it denotes a build that is not yet the final product but is provided to testers, stakeholders, or early adopters to evaluate new features and to identify issues before the next stable release.

Such versions are typically less polished than final releases and may contain known or unknown defects. They often carry a distinct version number or label and include a changelog describing new functionality, bug fixes, and remaining issues. Access is usually restricted to selected users or closed testing programs, though sometimes Zwischenversion builds are distributed publicly for broader feedback.

The term is used variably across organizations; some teams prefer to call these builds Beta, Preview, or Milestone, while others simply refer to them as Zwischenversion. In many contexts it serves a similar role to internal alpha/beta releases, but without asserting formal testing stages defined by policy or standard processes. In addition to software, firmware, drivers, and other hardware-related development may also use Zwischenversion to mark intermediate iterations before a production-ready version.

See also: Alpha version, Beta version, Release candidate, Milestone, Preview version, Firmware release.