In a computing environment, burst mode refers generically to any situation in which a device is transmitting data repeatedly without waiting for input from another device or waiting for an internal process to terminate before continuing the transfer of data.

The actual manner in which burst modes work varies from one type of device to another, but devices which have some sort of standard burst mode include:

• RAM, including EDO, SDRAM, DDR-SDRAM, and RDRAM (only the last three are required to send data in burst mode according to industry standards)
• Hard disk drive interfaces such as SCSI and IDE
• AGP graphics processors (debatable, write-combining is similar in purpose and meaning)

See also:

• locality of reference
• DMA

Burst mode in a weapon (usually an assult rifle or automatic pistol) is a firing mode enabling the shooter to release 3 rounds group with single trigger push.

In US assult rifles M4 carbine and M16A2, the burst mode replaced the full-auto mode which the older M16A1 had. The reason for the replacement was the massive waste of ammunition and very poor performance of soldiers who used the M16's full automatic fire in Vietnam War.

See also:

• Selective fire
• Automatic firearm
• Assault rifle
• Machinegun