QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation)

Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is a way of transmitting information by changing both the amplitude (strength) and phase (position in a cycle) of a carrier wave. It combines two signals that are out of sync by 90 degrees (quadrature), allowing multiple bits to be sent simultaneously within each wave cycle. This efficient method increases data throughput, making it popular for digital TV, internet, and wireless communications. Essentially, QAM encodes data into different 'patterns' of the wave's amplitude and phase, enabling faster and more reliable digital transmissions.