Duplex (telecommunications)

A duplex communication system is a point-to-point system composed of two connected parties or devices that can communicate with one another in both directions. "Duplex" comes from "duo" that means "double", and "plex" that means "structure" or "parts of"; thus, a duplex system has two clearly defined data transmissions, with each path carrying information in only one direction: A to B over one path, and B to A over the other. There are two types of duplex communication systems: full-Duplex and half-Duplex.

In a full duplex system, both parties can communicate with each other simultaneously. An example of a full-duplex device is a telephone; the parties at both ends of a call can speak and be heard by the other party simultaneously. The earphone reproduces the speech of the remote party as the microphone transmits the speech of the local party, because there is a two-way communication channel between them, or more strictly speaking, because there are two communication paths/channels between them.