Parity
A
very basic method of error checking that checks data for errors during a transmission or on a data storage mechanism.
Parity works by setting a parity bit to an even or odd number.
For example, if the binary stream contains an
even amount of 1's
and the parity bit is odd, the computer would generate a
parity error because the data is corrupt. In the picture to the right, is an
example of an 8-bit binary number with a ninth parity bit and examples of odd
and even parity binary with their associated parity bit.
In the past most memory manufacturers had the option between parity and non-parity memory. However, today's computer memory is more reliable and because of costs parity error checking is no longer used. When a memory error does occur with a computer that has no-parity memory it can cause the computer to freeze or generate an error.
Parity
error checking only detects and reports errors, it will not correct the
errors found.
Also see: BERT, CRC, ECC, Error control, Mark parity, Memory definitions, No-parity, Parity bit, Parity Check, Serial, Space parity