Editing Data communication (section)

==Serial and parallel transmission==
In telecommunications, [[serial transmission]] is the sequential transmission of [[signal element]]s of a group representing a [[Character (computing)|character]] or other entity of [[data]]. Digital serial transmissions are bits sent over a single wire, frequency or optical path sequentially. Because it requires less [[signal processing]] and less chances for error than parallel transmission, the [[transfer rate]] of each individual path may be faster. This can be used over longer distances and a check digit or [[parity bit]] can be sent along with the data easily.

Parallel transmission is the simultaneous transmission of related signal elements over two or more separate paths. Multiple electrical wires are used that can transmit multiple bits simultaneously, which allows for higher data transfer rates than can be achieved with serial transmission. This method is typically used internally within the computer, for example, the internal buses, and sometimes externally for such things as printers. [[Timing skew]] can be a significant issue in these systems because the wires in parallel data transmission unavoidably have slightly different properties so some bits may arrive before others, which may corrupt the message. This issue tends to worsen with distance making parallel data transmission less reliable for long distances.