Digital Logic
Parity
An error detection bit added to data, making the total number of 1s either even (even parity) or odd (odd parity).
Detailed Explanation
Parity provides single-bit error detection. The transmitter counts 1s and adds a parity bit to achieve the chosen parity. The receiver counts 1s including parity; wrong parity indicates an error.
Parity detects odd numbers of bit errors but not even numbers (two errors cancel). It cannot correct errors—only detect them. More sophisticated codes (Hamming, Reed-Solomon) provide error correction.