In a 4/4 time signature, how many beats does a half note receive?

In a 4/4 time signature, a half note is assigned a duration of 2 beats. This is because the basic unit of a measure in 4/4 time is the quarter note, which receives 1 beat. Since a half note is equivalent to two quarter notes in length, it follows that a half note receives 2 beats in this time signature. This understanding is fundamental in music as it helps in counting and arranging notes accurately within a measure.