Symbol by symbol variable constellation type and/or mapping capable communication device. A communication device is operable to perform processing of a variable constellation signal whose constellation varies on a symbol by symbol basis. This may involve performing encoding of input to generate the variable constellation signal; alternatively or in addition to, this may involve performing decoding of a variable constellation signal as well. In doing so, this approach may involve using a single encoder and/or decoder (depending on the application). In some instances, a single device is operable to encode a first variable constellation signal (for transmission to another device) and to decode a second variable constellation signal (that has been received from another device). In addition, a method of coding (including one or both of encoding and decoding) may also operate of a variable constellation signal whose constellation varies on a symbol by symbol basis.