Definition

Noun: A method for verifying the integrity of data, especially during transmission or storage in a computer system. It involves adding an extra bit (the parity bit) to a set of binary data to make the total number of 1-bits either always even (even parity) or always odd (odd parity). The system checks this count to detect errors.

Usage

A parity check is a fundamental error-detection technique. It is used to ensure data has not been corrupted. The system performs a parity check by counting the bits in a received data unit and comparing the count to the expected parity (even or odd).

Examples

• The simple communication protocol used a parity check on each byte of data.
• After the data transfer, the receiver performed a parity check and found an error in the third packet.
• The memory module's reliability was increased by using a parity check for every write operation.

Advanced Usage

• Longitudinal parity check (LRC): A more advanced form where a parity bit is calculated for each bit position across a block of bytes, creating a parity byte for the entire block.
• While effective for detecting single-bit errors, a simple parity check cannot correct errors and may fail to detect errors involving an even number of changed bits.

Variants and Related Words

• Parity Bit (n): The extra bit added to data to make the parity (even or odd) correct.
  • The system appended a parity bit to each 7-bit character before transmission.
• Parity Error (n): An error that is identified when a parity check fails.
  • The console displayed a "parity error" message, indicating corrupted data.

Synonyms

• Redundancy check: A broader term for any error-detection method that adds extra (redundant) data.
• Error-checking: The general process of detecting errors in data.

Related Phrases

• To run a parity check: To execute the parity verification process.
  • The technician decided to run a parity check on the entire hard disk.
• To fail a parity check: To be identified as containing an error by the parity verification process.
  • The data packet failed the parity check and was automatically retransmitted.

Noun

1. a system of checking for errors in computer functioning