Topics / Networks and Data Transmission / Synchronous and Asynchronous
Synchronous and Asynchronous
Synchronous and Asynchronous transmission are two methods (protocols) of keeping data synchronised when transmitted.
Asynchronous data transmission
- Data is transmitted in discrete packets (usually 1 byte)
- Each packet of data is sent with control bits
- The control bits allow the receiver to know when the data starts and ends
- The control bits prevent the packets of data getting mixed up
- Packets are sent intermittently (they have uneven time intervals between them)
- Slower than synchronous
Synchronous data transmission
- A continuous stream of data
- The data is accompanied by timing signals (generated by an internal clock)
- The clock ensures the sender and receiver are in step with each other
- The receiver counts how many bits were sent over a period of time then reassembles them into bytes (multiple bytes sent at once)
- Timings have to be accurate as there are no control bits
- Faster than asynchronous