Checksum: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word combines 'check', meaning to verify, and 'sum', referring to the total when numbers are added together.
• First used in the computing world in the 1960s to improve data reliability during transmissions.

Technology

• Checksums are widely used in data transmission, file storage, and software downloads to ensure data integrity.
• Different types of checksums, like CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) or MD5, serve various purposes in error detection and verification.

Pop Culture

• In the world of video games, checksums help developers ensure that game data remains intact during updates.
• Certain genres of music and films use checksum-like concepts, emphasizing authentication and originality.

Science

• In biology, the idea of a checksum can be related to how organisms check for DNA mutations, ensuring genetic reliability.
• Checksums in scientific computing assist researchers in verifying data from experiments and simulations.

Psychology

• The human brain employs a kind of checksum when recalling memories, checking against what is known to ensure accuracy.
• Errors in memory recall can be seen as a system failing to perform its own 'checksum' effectively.