16. Error Checking and Correcting
ECC code allows the processor to detect and sometimes correct errors made when moving data from one place to another.
Two major types of data errors can occur in data transmission:
- hard errors, which are permanent, arise from broken interconnects, internal shorts, or open leads
- soft errors, which are transient, are caused by system noise, power surges, and alpha particles.
Hard errors must be corrected by physical repair of the damaged equipment and restoration of data from backup. Soft errors can be corrected by using error checking and correcting codes.
