Suppose we send some data once it is received how system will come to know whether it is corrupted or not? Here come the error-checking algorithms. Let’s talk about CRC. Cyclic Redundancy Check is a simple yet effective error-checking algorithm. This is performed by performing a binary solution on the transmitted data at the sender’s side and verifying the same at the receiver’s side. The sender and receiver both perform CRC calculations. When data is received, the receiver recalculates the CRC checksum and compares it to the one received. If they match, the data is assumed to be unchanged; if not, an error is detected. CRC is widely used in networks, storage devices, and digital communication protocols. We will mention some other methods in the description.
Checksum: Checksums are simple error-checking methods that involve adding up the values (usually in binary) of all the data in a message. The sender sends both the data and the checksum, and the receiver calculates its own checksum based on the received data. If the calculated checksum matches the received one, the data is assumed to be correct. Checksums are not as robust as CRC for error detection.
Parity Bit: Parity bit is a basic error-detection mechanism used in binary systems. An extra bit is added to each byte or character in such a way that the total number of 1s is always even (even parity) or odd (odd parity). If the parity bit doesn’t match the expected parity, an error is detected.
Hamming Code: Hamming codes are a family of error-correcting codes. They add extra bits to data in a way that allows the recipient to not only detect but also correct errors. There are different types of Hamming codes with varying levels of error correction capabilities.
Reed-Solomon Code: Reed-Solomon codes are a class of error-correcting codes widely used in digital communication, particularly in applications like CDs, DVDs, and QR codes. They can correct errors even if a significant portion of the data is corrupted.
BCH (Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem) Code: BCH codes are another type of error-correcting code. They are used in applications where error correction is critical, such as in satellite communication and digital television.
Turbo Codes and LDPC Codes: These are advanced error-correcting codes used in modern communication systems like 4G and 5G wireless networks. They provide very efficient error correction capabilities.