In a simplex transmission, how do signals travel?

In the context of data transmission, simplex transmission is characterized by one-way communication. This means that signals can only travel in one direction at a time, which allows for a clear and efficient route for the data being sent. Devices operating in simplex mode, such as a traditional television broadcast or a keyboard input to a computer, have a sole purpose – to send information either from the sender to the receiver or from the input device to the system, but not both ways simultaneously.

Understanding that simplex transmission is strictly unidirectional helps emphasize its limitations when compared to other transmission modes like half-duplex or full-duplex, where both sending and receiving can occur, either alternately or simultaneously. This unidirectional flow is critical in applications where the sender does not require feedback from the receiver, making it an optimal choice for certain types of communication systems.