Definition
Hamming code is a linear error-correcting code that adds bits to data to detect errors arising from transmission. It is a block code that works on fixed-size data blocks. Richard Hamming developed the code in the 1950s.
How Hamming Code Works
Hamming code relies on parity to check for errors. The encoding process involves adding parity bits to the data, with the parity value being even or odd.
An incorrect parity (even or odd) indicates a data transmission error. With the hamming code, detecting the default bit and correcting it precisely is easy.
However, hamming codes can only detect errors at a specific hamming distance. For example, a hamming code with a minimum distance of three can only identify two errors and resolve one.
Hamming Code Features
- Error detection and correction: Hamming code detects and resolves single-bit errors when data is transmitted to ensure the recipient receives the exact data.
- Redundancy: Hamming code adds redundant bits to the transmitted data, enabling the recipient to identify and correct errors that might occur during the transmission.
- Efficiency: It’s an efficient error-correction method suitable for low-power and low-bandwidth networks.
- Widely used: It has many use cases like telecommunications, computer networks, and data storage systems.
- Single error correction: This technique can correct single-bit errors, which is useful in situations where external sources like electromagnetic interference cause the error.
- Limited multiple error correction: Hamming code can only correct an error. So, more advanced methods can be applied in applications with multiple errors.