parity check

American  

noun

Computers.

1. a method for detecting errors in data communications or within a computer system by counting the number of ones or zeros per byte or per word, including a special check bit paritybit, to see if the value is even or odd.

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parity check British  

noun

1. a check made of computer data to ensure that the total number of bits of value 1 (or 0) in each unit of information remains odd or even after transfer between a peripheral device and the memory or vice versa

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Etymology

Origin of parity check

First recorded in 1945–50