What is Bit rate?
The number of bits per second that can be transmitted along a digital network. Bitrate, as the name implies, describes the rate at which bits are transferred from one location to another. In networking and digital telecommunications, bit rate refers to the per-second measurement of data that passes through a communications network. Bitrate is commonly measured in bits per second (bps), kilobits per second (Kbps), or megabits per second (Mbps). No matter the units being used, a higher number is generally good, indicating high speed or high quality.
Equation: Bit rate = Baud rate x bits per signal or symbol
What is baud rate?
Baud rate is the rate at which the number of signal elements or changes to the signal occurs per second when it passes through a transmission medium. The higher a baud rate is the faster the data is sent/received.
In other words, baud rate is the rate at which information is transferred in a communication channel. Baud rate is commonly used when discussing electronics that use serial communication.
Equation: Baud rate = number of signal elements/total time (in seconds)
Importance of Baud rate
- Baud rate can determine the bandwidth requirements for transmission of the signal.
- Baud rate is also used for the calculation of the Bit rate of a communication channel.
- It is a tuning parameter (i.e., it adjusts the Network congestion in data networking) for the transmission of a signal.
- It specifies how fast data can be sent over a serial line or serial interface (it’s an interface that sends data as a series of bits over a single wire).
Also Read: Difference Between Megabytes And Mebibyte
Bit rate vs baud rate in tabular form
| BASIS OF COMPARISON | BIT RATE | BAUD RATE |
| Description | Bit rate is defined as the transmission of number of bits per second. | Baud rate is defined as the number of signal units per second. |
| Role | It determines the number of bits traveled per second. | It determines how many times the state of a signal is changing. |
| Focus | Bit rate focusses on computer efficiency. | Baud rate focusses on data transmission. |
| Use | Bit rate is not used to decide the requirement of bandwidth for transmission of signal. | Baud rate is used to decide the requirement of bandwidth for transmission of signal. |
| Equation | Bit rate = baud rate x the number of bits per signal unit | Baud rate = bit rate / the number of bits per signal unit |
What you need to know about bit rate and baud rate
Bit Rate
- Bit rate is defined as the transmission of number of bits per second.
- It determines the number of bits traveled per second.
- Bit rate focusses on computer efficiency.
- Bit rate is not used to decide the requirement of bandwidth for transmission of signal.
- Bit Rate can be expressed by the given equation: Bit rate = baud rate x the number of bits per signal unit
Baud Rate
- Baud rate is defined as the number of signal units per second.
- It determines how many times the state of a signal is changing.
- Baud rate focusses on data transmission.
- Baud rate is used to decide the requirement of bandwidth for transmission of signal.
- Baud rate is expressed in the given equation:
Baud rate = bit rate / the number of bits per signal unit