What is signal & systems?

What is Signal?

Signal is a time varying physical phenomenon which is intended to convey information.

OR

Signal is a function of time.

OR

Signal is a function of one or more independent variables, which contain some information.

Example: voice signal, video signal, signals on telephone wires etc.

Note: Noise is also a signal, but the information conveyed by noise is unwanted hence it is considered as undesirable.

What is System?

System is a device or combination of devices, which can operate on signals and produces corresponding response. Input to a system is called as excitation and output from it is called as response.

For one or more inputs, the system can have one or more outputs.

Example: Communication System