duration' is executed before the next data bit is 'read' - repeating for the length of the whole serial word (typically 7/8-data bits). An optional PARITY bit follows the data bits and precedes the stop bit(s). Finally, one or more STOP bits are appended to identify the end of the data word and to make sure there is a bit transition when the next START bit is transmitted. The word structure used in typical asynchronous serial communications is START-DATA[0:7]-PARITY[optional;0]-STOP[0:1]. These formatting variables are specified when configuring the transmit and receive nodes before communications take place. The bit duration is determined from the nominated 'bit rate' in bps... 300, 1200, 9600, 19200, 115200 etc. The use of the word BAUD is not strictly correct in the modern application of serial channels. Special level & timing conditions are detected to identify an open-circuit condition (BREAK). References Synchronous and asynchronous signalling Distributed computing