Which of the following best describes the baud rate?

The baud rate is defined as the measure of communication speed in a transmission system, specifically indicating the number of signal changes or symbols sent per second. Unlike bits per second, which measures how much actual data is transmitted, baud rate reflects how many times the signal is changed or altered to convey information. This distinction is important as each signal change could represent one or more bits, depending on the modulation scheme used.

Understanding baud rate is essential for installers and technicians, as it affects the overall performance and capacity of data communication systems. High baud rates generally facilitate faster data transmission, which is critical in broadband applications and ensuring efficient communication between devices.