+1 coinfor reading to the end
+1
Home / Glossary / CRC
Glossary · Protocol

CRC

Cyclical Redundancy Check

In plain language

A quick check that data arrived or was stored without accidental damage.

The metaphor

Like counting the pages of a parcel of documents against the number on the cover sheet.

Going deeper

How it works

  • A number is calculated from the data.
  • The receiver recalculates it.
  • A mismatch means the data was damaged.
  • It catches accidents and does not stop deliberate changes.
In practice
  • A zip file reports an error.
  • A network frame is discarded.
  • A disk flags a damaged block.

A question owners ask

Does it detect tampering?

No. A deliberate change can be hidden. Stronger codes are used for that.

Related terms
AHAuthentication HeaderARPAddress Resolution ProtocolBGPBorder Gateway ProtocolCCMPCounter Mode/CBC-MAC ProtocolCHAPChallenge Handshake Authentication ProtocolEAPExtensible Authentication ProtocolESPEncapsulated Security PayloadFTPFile Transfer Protocol

Something here sounds like your problem?

Every WILDCARD card exists to solve one named problem. Find yours.

Pick your problem →