What does bit rate refer to?

Bit rate refers to the quantity of information that is transmitted over a digital communication channel within a specific amount of time, typically measured in bits per second (bps). This measurement indicates how much data is being processed or transmitted and is crucial for determining the quality and clarity of audio and video signals. A higher bit rate generally suggests better quality because more data is being transmitted, while a lower bit rate may lead to compression artifacts or loss of detail in the media.

Understanding bit rate is essential in various contexts, such as streaming video or audio, where bandwidth limitations can affect playback quality. Consequently, choosing the correct bit rate is vital for achieving a balance between quality and the necessary data transmission capacity for a given application.