What is Shift keying?

Shift keying refers to a signal modulation technique used in communication systems to encode data by modifying the characteristics of a carrier signal. In this method, digital signals are represented by shifting or changing the phase, frequency, or amplitude of the carrier wave. This allows for efficient transmission of data over communication channels, making it a fundamental aspect of how digital information is conveyed.

The reason it is classified specifically as a modulation technique is because it involves altering the properties of a carrier signal in response to the digital data being transmitted. This ensures that the receiver can correctly interpret the data being sent. In contrast, options related to data compression or error detection pertain to different aspects of data handling, while signal transmission styles are too broad and do not specifically focus on the modulation aspect that shift keying represents.