Parity is a method used to check if data has been lost or compromised during transmission. Parity bits are added to binary digits to ensure that the received data is the same as the original. If an error occurs, an error message is generated and an analysis is required.
When used in a computing environment, parity has to do with the approach used to determine whether data has been lost or compromised in any way in transit from one root source to another location. This can include movements such as data loss during an operation, data being overwritten, and also when data is copied and stored in some way, such as on disk. It also comes into play when evaluating data transfer between computer hard drives.
This data checking process gets its name from the Latin word paritas, which means equivalent or equal. Since the desired effect of transferring data is to get it to its destination undamaged of any kind, it is the hope that what is received is the same or identical to the original.
Establishing parity involves inserting extra binary digits into the data transmission. These extra digits are known as parity bits. A single bit is added to a predetermined group of bits which are shifted simultaneously. While it essentially runs along with the group of binary bits, it doesn’t actually become part of the group. Rather, the bit serves to define the group and hopefully hold the other bits together during transmission.
The exact structure of the extra bit depends on the group of binary bits it is assigned to travel with. Before data transmission takes place, each group of bits is counted to determine the exact number in each group. If the group has an odd number, the parity bit is set to zero. When the group has an even number of bits, it is set to one. Once parity is established on the originating end, data transmission begins.
At the receiving end, each group of bits is re-counted to ensure that the entire set has completed its journey. This is done by making sure that the received bits are an odd number. If the number of bits is an even number, it means that something happened during transmission and data was lost from that particular group of bits. An error message is generated and the end user has the opportunity to try the transmission a second time.
Parity is simply a means of making sure what is sent is what is received. Achieving it is the goal with any type of data transmission, and this is most often what actually happens. If there are ongoing problems with reaching it during broadcasts, that’s a sign that something has been damaged in the process. At this point it is important for an information systems specialist to analyze the situation.
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