A method for variable length decoding, the method including: receiving, in a default word length mode, at least one first data word having a default first word length; combining the received at least one first data word as a first portion of data; receiving, after the at least one first data word, a transition word indicative of transitioning to a variable word length mode; receiving, after the transition word, a first word length word indicative of a second word length; receiving, after the first word length word, at least one second data word having the second word length; and combining the received at least one second data word as a second portion of the data.