The term "cyclic redundancy check" refers to a technique used in data transmission, where a checksum is generated to detect errors in the data. This term is pronounced /'saɪklɪk/ /rɪ'dʌndənsi/ /tʃɛk/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first part "cyclic" is pronounced as /'saɪklɪk/ and refers to a process that repeats itself in a cycle. The second part "redundancy" is pronounced /rɪ'dʌndənsi/ and indicates the presence of extra data that can be used to verify the original information. Finally, "check" is pronounced as /tʃɛk/ and refers to the action of verifying the integrity of the data.
Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) is an error-detection algorithm used in computer networks and digital communication systems to ensure the integrity and accuracy of data being transmitted or stored. It is a basic method of error detection that involves generating a checksum, or a fixed-size numerical value, which is appended to the data packet for comparison purposes.
The CRC algorithm performs a series of mathematical calculations on the data, treating it as a sequence of bits, and generates a checksum value. This value is derived by dividing the data packet by a specific divisor using binary division. The remainder obtained from this division is the CRC, which is added to the data packet.
Upon reception of the data packet, the receiver performs the same mathematical calculations on the received data using the same divisor. If the remainder obtained matches the appended CRC value, the data is assumed to be error-free. Conversely, if the remainder does not match, an error is detected, indicating that the data packet has been corrupted during transmission or storage.
CRC is widely used as it is a fast and efficient method of error detection. It is particularly useful in situations where simple errors, such as bit flips, occur during data transmission. By providing a checksum value, CRC allows for the detection of these errors, ensuring the integrity of the data and enabling the necessary measures to mitigate or correct these errors.