is hyper beam special or physical?
JsX said all normal moves are physical, or so i understood....

It's actually JsXtm. Anyways, Hyper Beam is physical in R/S/E/FR/LG, but in D/P things changed. Now it's a special move. JsXtm is right if your refering to R/S/E/FR/LG. Also, many other moves now changed to physical and special like Shadowball for example. Shadowball is now a special attack in D/P. Another move that was special and is now physical in D/P is Dragon Claw.

In the RBY, GSC, Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald/FireRed/LeafGreen games, its physical. In diamond/pearl, its special.

In the old games, types of moves determine physical vs. special:

Physical:
~Normal
~Flying
~Ghost
~Fighting
~Rock
~Ground
~Bug
~Poison
~Steel

Special:
~Water
~Ice
~Electirc
~Fire
~Psychic
~Dark
~Dragon
~Grass

So, all normal moves were physical, and all dark moves were special.

Does this involve in the new generation too

Um... did you read what Peanut-Lover said? Pearl/Diamond ARE the new generation, and in P/D, each attack is either Physical or Special; it doesn't matter what type that attack is.

That or a status move. You can kinda tell if a move is special or physical (in D/P) depending on how it works:

Physical: Moves that go up directly to the opponent and attack, like Bite, Crunch, Ice Punch, Mega Kick, Metal Claw, and so on.

Special: Moves that involve a projectile or other mechanism, like Giga Drain, Hyper Beam, Ancientpower, Psychic, and so on.

Status: Moves that don't do outright damage, but rather inflict a condition or offers protection, like Protect, Safeguard, Recover, Toxic, and so on.

But in RSE and before physical and special was wholly determined on the type. P-L pretty much got the bases there.

- DNA

ok... thanks for that.
so i could use bite on a spec. sweeper and be fine?

Yes, you can use bite on a special sweeper.
You could use it on a physical sweeper - it just wouldn't be a good idea .

Again, the site and its guides help: http://www.psypokes.com/dex/trainersguide.php#stab Its embedded with STAB