What Is VBR? Variable Bit Rate

What Is VBR?
The term VBR is quite a versatile term, that is, even in the computing world it stands for several things, and this term also has specific meaning attached to it even if it is used outside the networking world. This article will only deal with this term with respect to the networking and computing world.

The term VBR stands for variable bit rate in the networking world. VBR or variable bit rate is class B quality of service. This VBR is a ATM bandwidth allocation service which allows the users to specify a certain throughput capacity, that is, a peak rate at which the data is to be transmitted.

In this service the throughput rate is set according to the wishes of the user, however, the data through this service is not sent evenly, the way the data is sent depends entirely upon this service. The most common use of this service is seen in places where compressed packetized voice and video data has to be sent to the end user present in the network. The best example of the scenario where this service would be extensively used is videoconferencing, in it both, the voice and video data is sent to the end users who are present in this videoconferencing.

The main advantage of VBR is that it allows a higher bit rate to be allocated, hence allowing more storage space to be allocated. However, like having an advantage, this service also have some disadvantages. The first one is that, the time needed to encode the data with service is often more as compared to the other services used, because the process is more complex and some of the hardware might not be compatible with service.

VBR: Then over a dial up connection and internet broadband, the user have to face a problem with this service, and the third disadvantage is that the encoding process done provides very little security for the data as many could interpret what the encoded message is.
Read: HIJacker

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