In
digital communications,
symbol rate, also known as
baud rate and
modulation rate, is the number of symbol changes, waveform changes, or signaling events, across the transmission medium per time unit using a digitally
modulated signal or a
line code. The symbol rate is measured in
baud (Bd) or symbols per second. In the case of a line code, the symbol rate is the pulse rate in pulses per second. Each symbol can represent or convey one or several
bits of data. The symbol rate is related to the
gross bitrate expressed in bits per second.