Communication between a computer and a speaker involves

Table of Contents Show

Comparison Chart
Half Duplex
Full Duplex
Key Differences of the Three Transmission Modes
Further Reading

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The communication that takes place in the form of signals between two or more computing devices or nodes is called Data Communication. The types of Data Communication are Simplex communication, Half-duplex communication, and Full-duplex communication.

Half-duplex communication: It is the communication between two devices is two-way or bidirectional in which both the devices can send and receive data or control signals in both directions
Full-duplex communication: The communication which is bidirectional and in which both devices can send and receive data simultaneously is known as Full-duplex communication.

Related Questions:-

There are three modes of transmission, namely: simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex. The transmission mode defines the direction of signal flow between two connected devices.

The primary difference between the three modes of transmission is that in a simplex mode of transmission the communication is unidirectional, or one-way; whereas in the half-duplex mode of transmission the communication is two-directional, but the channel is interchangeably used by both of the connected devices. On the other hand, in the full-duplex mode of transmission, the communication is bi-directional or two-way, and the channel is used by both of the connected devices simultaneously.

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Simplex	Half Duplex	Full Duplex
Direction of Communication	Unidirectional	Two-directional, one at a time	Two-directional, simultaneously
Send / Receive	The sender can only send data	The sender can send and receive data, but one a time	The sender can send and receive data simultaneously
Performance	Worst performing mode of transmission	Better than Simplex	Best performing mode of transmission
Example	Keyboard and monitor	Walkie-talkie	Telephone

Simplex

In simplex transmission mode, the communication between sender and receiver occurs in only one direction. The sender can only send the data, and the receiver can only receive the data. The receiver cannot reply to the sender.

Simplex transmission can be thought of as a one-way road in which the traffic travels only in one direction—no vehicle coming from the opposite direction is allowed to drive through.

To take a keyboard/monitor relationship as an example, the keyboard can only send the input to the monitor, and the monitor can only receive the input and display it on the screen. The monitor cannot reply, or send any feedback, to the keyboard.

Half Duplex

The communication between sender and receiver occurs in both directions in half-duplex transmission, but only one at a time. The sender and receiver can both send and receive the information, but only one is allowed to send at any given time. Half-duplex is still considered a one-way road, in which a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction of the traffic has to wait till the road is empty before it can pass through.

For example, in walkie-talkies, the speakers at both ends can speak, but they have to speak one by one. They cannot speak simultaneously.

Full Duplex

In full-duplex transmission mode, the communication between sender and receiver can occur simultaneously. The sender and receiver can both transmit and receive at the same time. The full-duplex transmission mode is like a two-way road, in which traffic can flow in both directions at the same time.

For example, in a telephone conversation, two people communicate, and both are free to speak and listen at the same time.

Key Differences of the Three Transmission Modes

In simplex mode, the signal is sent in one direction. In half duplex mode, the signal is sent in both directions, but one at a time. In full duplex mode, the signal is sent in both directions at the same time.
In simplex mode, only one device can transmit the signal. In half duplex mode, both devices can transmit the signal, but one at a time. In full duplex mode, both devices can transmit the signal at the same time.
Full duplex performs better than half duplex, and half duplex in turn performs better than simplex.
Simplex: The keyboard sends the command to the monitor. The monitor cannot reply to the keyboard.
Half duplex: Using a walkie-talkie, both speakers can communicate, but they have to take turns.
Full duplex: Using a telephone, both speakers can communicate at the same time.
The full duplex transmission mode offers the best performance among the three, on account of the fact that it maximises the amount of bandwidth available.

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Manish Bhojasia, a technology veteran with 20+ years @ Cisco & Wipro, is Founder and CTO at Sanfoundry. He lives in Bangalore, and focuses on development of Linux Kernel, SAN Technologies, Advanced C, Data Structures & Alogrithms. Stay connected with him at LinkedIn.

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