What is a characteristic of a half-duplex communication circuit?

A half-duplex communication circuit is characterized by its ability to permit two-way communications between stations, but it does so one direction at a time. This means that while one station transmits data, the other must wait until that transmission is complete before it can send a message back. This characteristic distinguishes half-duplex from full-duplex systems, which can communicate in both directions simultaneously.

In practical terms, half-duplex communication is often utilized in applications such as walkie-talkies or CB radios, where the user must take turns talking and listening, thus optimizing the use of a single channel for back-and-forth communication.