Error Correction Codes

Definition ∞ Error correction codes are algorithms designed to detect and correct errors that occur during data transmission or storage. These codes add redundant information to data, allowing the original data to be accurately recovered even if some bits are corrupted. In digital systems, they improve data reliability by enabling the receiver to reconstruct the correct message without requesting retransmission. They are essential for maintaining data integrity in noisy or unreliable communication channels.
Context ∞ Error correction codes are foundational in various digital communication and storage technologies, including those that underpin distributed ledger systems. While not always directly discussed in crypto news, their underlying principles contribute to the resilience of data propagation across decentralized networks. Their application ensures the integrity of transaction data and blockchain state information, even when transmitted across numerous nodes subject to potential interference. The reliable functioning of cryptographic protocols implicitly relies on such robust data handling techniques.