Burst Rate
The number of frames a camera can capture per second in continuous drive mode.
Measured in
fps
In depth
The headline figure usually assumes specific conditions — electronic shutter, a particular file format, sometimes locked focus — so the sustained rate with autofocus tracking and mechanical shutter can be considerably lower. Rate matters less than people assume for a decisive moment and more than they assume for peak action, where a bird's wing position changes completely between frames.
Examples in practice
At 20 fps, a burst covering a tennis serve captures the racquet before, at and after ball contact.