We generally think of signals propagating through our circuits in one of three modes, single-ended, differential mode, or common mode. Single ended mode is the mode we are most familiar with. It involves a single wire or trace between a driver and a receiver. The signal propagates down the trace and returns through the ground system1 Differential mode involves a pair of traces (wires) between the driver and receiver. We typically say that one trace carries the positive signal and the other carries a negative signal that is both equal to, and the opposite polarity from, the first. Since the signals are equal and opposite, there is no return signal through ground; what travels down one trace comes back on the other.