# What is Viral Coefficient? Definition & Technical Mechanics

> **Source:** [SPIDITS AI Startup & Venture Intelligence Glossary](https://spidits.com/startup-glossary)  
> **Category:** Metrics  
> **Canonical Citation:** [https://spidits.com/startup-glossary/viral-coefficient](https://spidits.com/startup-glossary/viral-coefficient)

## Definition
The Viral Coefficient is a metric measuring the number of new users generated by each existing active user.

## Architectural Mechanics & Deep Dive
The Viral Coefficient (often measured as the K-factor) is a metric that measures the number of new users generated by each existing active user. A viral coefficient greater than 1.0 indicates exponential growth, meaning the product naturally spreads through word-of-mouth or referral loops without paid advertising.

## Industry Applications & Real-World Use Cases
Analyzing viral growth loops and referral campaign mechanics

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What does a viral coefficient of 1.2 mean?
It means every 10 active users successfully bring in 12 new users. A coefficient greater than 1.0 triggers compounding exponential growth.

### How is the viral coefficient calculated?
Multiply the number of invites sent per user by the conversion rate of those invites (K = Invites * Conversion Rate).

## Related Terminology
- [growth-hacking](https://spidits.com/startup-glossary/growth-hacking)
- [cac](https://spidits.com/startup-glossary/cac)
- [ltv](https://spidits.com/startup-glossary/ltv)

---
*From the SPIDITS AI Knowledge Base (311+ terms indexed). Explore full technical definitions: [https://spidits.com/startup-glossary](https://spidits.com/startup-glossary)*