This metric tracks how many times per second a signal changes state, such as shifting voltage, frequency, or phase. While early acoustic modems transmitted exactly one bit per state change, later modulation schemes packed multiple bits into a single symbol. This means a high-speed link can push millions of bits per second while operating at a much lower baud rate.
Heard on the job
We need to drop the serial console down to 9600 baud before it will recognize the keystrokes.
Insider tip
A common rookie mistake is using baud and bits per second interchangeably; they are only equal in the simplest binary signaling schemes.
Also heard as
- baud rate
- symbol rate
Do not mix it up with
- Bitrate: Bitrate measures the total data payload transferred per second, whereas baud measures the physical hardware state changes carrying that data.