Baud

The Baud rate refers to the speed of a modem  . Although not technically accurate, baud rate is commonly used to mean bit rate (the number of bits transmitted per second) (see bps ).

A unit of speed in data transmission, or the maximum speed at which data can be sent down a channel. Baud is often equivalent to bits per second. Named after J. M. E. Baudot (died 1903). (See also bps)

In common usage the baud rate of a modem is how many bits it can send or receive per second. Technically, baud is the number of times per second that the carrier signal shifts value - for example a 1200 bit-per-second modem actually runs at 300 baud, but it moves 4 bits per baud (4 x 300 = 1200 bits per second).

A unit commonly used to describe the speed of modems .The baud rate technically is the number of times a modem signal changes per second .A 28.8 modem is actually is working at 2400 baud,but each signal change carries 12 bits of information.Therefore the data transfer rate is 28,800 bits per second.Over the years ,baud and bits per second have been used interchangeably,although that is technically wrong.

Contrary to popular belief, baud isn't a measurement of speed, but instead measures how frequently sound changes on a phone line. A lot of people think baud is a way to describe modem speeds in bits-per-second. They'll say a 28,800-bps modem transmits at 28,800 baud, and act like they know everything. But the fact is, modern modems transmit more bits with fewer changes in sound, so baud and bps numbers are not equal. So next time your friend says his new 56K v.90 modem can transfer data at 56,000 baud, you can make your self look good by telling him he's wrong and explaining to him the difference baud and bps.