An apparatus and method for encoding data are disclosed that may allow for variable run length encoding of data to be transmitted. An ordered stream of data bits is received from a logic circuit, and N sequential data bits of the stream are selected, where N is a positive integer. Of the N sequential data bits, M sequential data bits are selected, wherein M is a positive integer less than N. The M sequential data bits are then encoded to generate a code word that includes P data bits, wherein P is a positive integer greater than M and less than N. The code word is then concatenated with a subset of the N sequential data bits that excludes the M sequential data bits to form a transmission word. A transmit unit then sends the data bits of the transmission word in a serial fashion.