Parity Check
Parity check is an error-detection technique used in digital systems to verify data integrity by adding an extra bit (parity bit) to a set of binary data. It works by counting the number of 1s in the data and setting the parity bit to make the total count either even (even parity) or odd (odd parity). This simple method helps detect single-bit errors during data transmission or storage, though it cannot correct errors or detect multiple-bit errors.
Developers should learn parity check for implementing basic error detection in low-level systems, such as communication protocols, memory systems, or embedded devices where data reliability is critical. It's particularly useful in scenarios like serial communication (e.g., UART), RAID configurations, or hardware design, where a simple and efficient method to catch single-bit errors is needed without complex overhead.