In telecommunications and computing, bit rate (sometimes written bitrate or as a variable R) is the number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time.
The bit rate is quantified using the bits per second (bit/s) unit, often in conjunction with an SI prefix such as kilo- (kbit/s), mega- (Mbit/s), giga- (Gbit/s) or tera- (Tbit/s). Note that, although the IEC 60027-2 standard defines a convention for computer data symbols in base two exponents for binary multiples, when describing a bit rate, the SI convention of base ten exponents for decimal multiples is traditionally used. A bit rate of 1 kbit/s is equivalent to 1,000 (103) bits per second, not 1,024 (210) bits per second. Uppercase K as in Kbit/s should also never be used.
The formal abbreviation for "bits per second" is "bit/s" (not "bits/s", see writing style for SI units). In less formal contexts the abbreviations "b/s" or "bps" are sometimes used, though this risks confusion with "bytes per second" ("B/s", "Bps"), and the use of the abbreviation ps is also inconsistent with the SI symbol for picosecond.
1 Byte/s (B/s) corresponds to 8 bit/s (bit/s).
Read more about Bit Rate: Prefixes, Progress Trends, Multimedia
Famous quotes containing the words bit and/or rate:
“Nothing has been purchased more dearly than the little bit of reason and sense of freedom which now constitutes our pride.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“Writing a book I have found to be like building a house. A man forms a plan, and collects materials. He thinks he has enough to raise a large and stately edifice; but after he has arranged, compacted and polished, his work turns out to be a very small performance. The authour however like the builder, knows how much labour his work has cost him; and therefore estimates it at a higher rate than other people think it deserves,”
—James Boswell (1740–1795)