Error correction code definition – Glossary (2024)

Error correction code definition

Error correction code (ECC) is a technique used in digital communications and computing systems to detect and correct errors. ECC works by adding redundant bits to the original data, which are used to fix errors that may occur during transmission or storage. ECC is commonly used for fixing errors in computer memory, hard disk drives, CD/DVDs, and communication systems like wireless networks and the internet. It can improve the reliability and accuracy of data transmission and storage, reducing the likelihood of data corruption or loss.

Error correction code algorithms

There are many different types of ECC algorithms, all of which have some advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• Hamming codes. They are a type of linear block code that adds parity bits to the original data to detect and correct errors. Hamming codes are widely used in computer memory systems and can detect and correct single-bit errors, as well as some multiple-bit errors.
• Reed-Solomon codes. It’s a type of non-binary cyclic code that is able to correct errors that occur in bursts, therefore these codes are widely used to detect errors in CD/DVD data storage and wireless communication.
• Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) codes. It’s a family of cyclic codes that are commonly used in digital communication systems. BCH codes are able to correct errors in both random and burst error scenarios.
• Convolutional codes. An error correction code that uses a sliding window to encode and decode data. Convolutional codes are often used in wireless communication systems because of their ability to correct errors that occur due to signal fading and noise.
• Turbo codes. Widely used in mobile communication systems, turbo codes use multiple layers of encoding and decoding to achieve a high level of error correction performance.