Definition of Bit rate
In telecommunications and computing, bit rate (bitrate or as a variable R) is the number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time.
The bit rate is expressed as bits per second (symbol: bit/s), often with an SI prefix such as kilo (1 kbit/s = 1,000 bit/s), mega (1 Mbit/s = 1,000 kbit/s), giga (1 Gbit/s = 1,000 Mbit/s) or tera (1 Tbit/s = 1,000 Gbit/s). The non-standard abbreviation bps is often used: 1 Mbps is 1 Mbit/s, that is, one million bits per second.
The bit rate is different from the transfer rate, measured in transfers per second, when the channel is parallel and thus transfers multiple bits per transfer.
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Questions people ask
Real questions from the Stack Exchange community – follow a link to read the discussion.
- Why does a FLAC file have a lower bit rate than the CD file? · Sound Design SE
- What is the proper way to reduce audio sample rate and bit depth? · Sound Design SE
- What sampling rate and bit depth would be necessary to make a digital recording indistinguishable from the original? · Sound Design SE
- Why I can't check the bit rate on some videos? · Video Production SE
- How to encode aac_at with variable bit rate · Video Production SE
- Can't change Handbrake audio bit rate · Video Production SE
Frequently asked questions
What is Bit rate?
In telecommunications and computing, bit rate (bitrate or as a variable R) is the number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time.