In Computing, What is Parity?
When used in a computing environment, parity has to do with the approach that is used to determine if data was lost or compromised in some manner during transfer from a root source to another location. This can include such movements as losing data during an operation, overwriting data, and even when the data is copied and stored in some fashion, such as on disk. Parity also comes into play when evaluating the transference of data between computer hard drives. This process of checking data receives its name from the Latin word paritas, which means the equivalent or equal. Since the desired effect of transferring data is to have it arrive at its destination without corruption of any kind, it is the hope that what is received is equal or identical to the original. Establishing parity involves the insertion of extra binary digits in the transmission of the data. These extra digits are known as parity bits. A single parity bit is added to a predetermined group of bits that are being moved