What is the beta of a bipolar transistor?

In a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), 'beta' (β or hFE) represents the common-emitter current gain. It is defined as the ratio of the change in collector current with respect to the change in base current. This is a vital parameter because it dictates how effectively the transistor can amplify a tiny base current into a much larger collector current. Depending on the specific transistor, beta values typically range from 50 to several hundred. Options involving 'gate current' are traps meant to confuse BJTs with Field Effect Transistors (FETs).