How does an error-correcting code (ECC) protect data integrity?

How does an error-correcting code (ECC) protect data integrity?

• A. Encrypts Data To Prevent Unauthorized Access
• B. Speeds Up Memory Access
• C. Detects And Corrects Errors In Memory Or Storage To Prevent Corrupted Data From Being Used
• D. Provides Redundancy For Power Supply

Answer: (C)

ECC protects data integrity by detecting and correcting errors in memory or storage. It does this by adding extra redundant bits to each data word, which form an error-detection and error-correction code. When data is read, the ECC logic uses those bits to check for discrepancies, identify the erroneous bit(s), and, in many cases, automatically correct them on the fly. This prevents corrupted data from being used and helps maintain system reliability, especially in environments where memory faults can occur due to electrical noise, aging hardware, or radiation. Some ECC schemes can fix single-bit errors and detect double-bit errors, and more advanced versions can handle even more complex fault scenarios or raise errors when uncorrectable, avoiding silent data corruption. The other options miss the purpose of ECC: encryption protects access, not data integrity; speeding up memory isn’t the primary function and often comes with trade-offs; and redundancy for power supply isn’t about correcting data errors.

ECC protects data integrity by detecting and correcting errors in memory or storage. It does this by adding extra redundant bits to each data word, which form an error-detection and error-correction code. When data is read, the ECC logic uses those bits to check for discrepancies, identify the erroneous bit(s), and, in many cases, automatically correct them on the fly. This prevents corrupted data from being used and helps maintain system reliability, especially in environments where memory faults can occur due to electrical noise, aging hardware, or radiation. Some ECC schemes can fix single-bit errors and detect double-bit errors, and more advanced versions can handle even more complex fault scenarios or raise errors when uncorrectable, avoiding silent data corruption. The other options miss the purpose of ECC: encryption protects access, not data integrity; speeding up memory isn’t the primary function and often comes with trade-offs; and redundancy for power supply isn’t about correcting data errors.