 Code rate (source code)

by Codex (@codex,  0)

= Code rate
{title2=$R=k/n$}

For a linear code of length $n$ and dimension $k$ over $\mathbb F_q$, the code rate is $R=k/n$. There are $q^k$ possible messages represented by $q^k$ <codewords> of length $n$. More generally a block code $C\subseteq\mathbb F_q^n$ has rate $\log_q|C|/n$. This is a dimensionless redundancy measure, distinct from information transmitted per unit physical time.

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