check character
Noun: A check character is a single character appended to the end of a block of data during transmission. Its sole purpose is to enable the receiving system to verify the accuracy and integrity of the data received, typically by performing a mathematical calculation on the data block and comparing the result to this appended character.
The term is used primarily in computing, telecommunications, and data storage contexts to describe a fundamental error-detection mechanism. * A check character is calculated from the original data using a specific algorithm. * The system receiving the data recalculates the value. If the recalculated value matches the transmitted check character, the data is assumed to be correct. * It is a simple form of a checksum or validation code.
- In many barcode systems, the final digit is a check character calculated from the preceding numbers.
- The transmission protocol required appending a check character to each data packet.
- If the check character does not match, the software will flag the data block as potentially corrupted.
- Parity bit: A simple type of check character, often a single bit, used to make the total number of '1' bits in a byte either even or odd.
- Longitudinal redundancy check (LRC): A method where a check character is generated for a block of data bytes.
- Checksum (noun): A more complex value, often multiple bytes long, derived from data for error detection. A check character can be considered a simple form of checksum.
- Error-detecting code (noun): A general term for any scheme, including the use of a check character, that allows errors to be identified.
- Validation digit (noun): A synonym often used in the context of identification numbers, like in credit card numbers or ISBNs.
- Validation character
- Check digit
- Error-control character
- To calculate a check character: To compute the value that will be appended.
- To verify against the check character: To perform the recalculation and comparison to confirm data integrity.
- a character that is added to the end of a block of transmitted data and used to check the accuracy of the transmission