One of the most important things about data is to ensure its accuracy and integrity during its transmission or storage.
There are various reasons which can cause errors during data transmission. And for your information, these reasons can be as minor as noise or interference due to other signals. Moreover, these data transmission errors can corrupt a device's data storage hardware.
In the early time, there was barely a method to eliminate this problem. But today, various error detection and correction techniques are used to counter such errors.
One such technique is the Cyclic Redundancy Code (CRC). So, let's learn about CRC a little in depth, including implementing the CRC program in C.
In the end section of this blog, we will also touch upon the concept of Online C compilers.
What is the Cyclic Redundancy Code?
At its core, the Cyclic Redundancy Code is a polynomial-based error detection algorithm. It involves performing polynomial division on the data to create a remainder. It is often referred to as the CRC checksum.
The sender appends this checksum to the data before transmission. The receiver repeats the division process and compares the calculated checksum with the received one.
If they match, the data is considered error-free. But if the checksums don't match with each other, it indicates that there is an error.
The key to CRC's effectiveness lies in the choice of the generator polynomial. This polynomial determines the characteristics of the CRC code and its error-detecting capabilities.
Commonly, two generator polynomials are widely used. These two generator polynomials are CRC-16 and CRC-32. Both of these offer different levels of error detection.
CRC plays a vital role in ensuring data integrity. It is primarily used in digital communication systems. In day-to-day life, everybody is required to download, share, or receive data.
So, CRC helps to verify that the data received is the same as the data sent. It safeguards the storage system against bit errors, ultimately protecting your hardware from getting corrupted.
Cyclic Redundancy Code finds extensive application in various domains. In networking, CRC is employed in Ethernet frames. Here, it ensures the accuracy of data packets over networks.
Moreover, in storage devices like hard drives and flash memory, CRC is used to maintain the integrity of stored data.
How to Implement CRC Program in C?
Step-1: Required Libraries and Tools
To implement a CRC program in C, you should understand the C programming language. The algorithm used for CRC in C is made up of many components. So, you should know about these components. Moreover, no external libraries are used in the CRC program in C, as it can be implemented using standard C functions.
Step-2: Data Input and Preprocessing
Now, begin by taking user input. This user input can be predefined data. Convert the input data into binary form for processing. It is done with the help of bitwise operations in C. Let's say the binary transformation of input data is 1010101. So, the polynomial representation of this data can be x7 +x5 +x3 +1.
Step-3: Polynomial Division Function
In this step, create a function to perform the polynomial division. This function should iterate through the binary data, performing XOR operations based on the generator polynomial or the key. The result of this division is the CRC checksum.
Step-4: Adding Reminder to Original Data
Append the CRC checksum to the original data and transmit the complete package. The same polynomial division process is repeated at the receiver's end, and the calculated checksum is compared with the received one to identify errors.
CRC program in C
How to Test and Validate the CRC Program in C?
Before using the CRC program in C for real-world applications, it is essential to test its reliability. Below are a few ways to test your CRC program in C.
- Introduce the CRC program in C with Intentional Errors
Create test cases by altering specific bits in the input data. Calculate the expected CRC checksum for the modified data. The program should successfully identify these errors by producing a different checksum.
- Ensuring Correct Detection
Validate the program's correctness by comparing the calculated checksum with the expected one. If the program consistently detects errors and mismatches, it indicates the program is functioning as intended.
Successful test results will showcase the CRC program's ability to accurately detect errors in the data. When errors are intentionally introduced, the program should provide different checksums, signaling the presence of errors.
What are the Advantages and Limitations of the CRC program in C?
Advantages
CRC offers several advantages over other error detection methods. It's relatively simple to implement, requires minimal computational resources, and is highly effective at detecting errors in data. Additionally, it can be adapted for various use cases by selecting appropriate generator polynomials.
Limitations
While CRC effectively detects errors, it's important to note that it cannot correct errors. It can only identify the presence of errors. Additionally, CRC might fail to detect errors if a significant number of bits are corrupted within a single CRC polynomial cycle.
What is an Online C Compiler?
An Online C compiler is a web-based application that compiles the source code in the C Compiler programming language. An online C compiler is better than an offline C compiler because it has many benefits.
Firstly, it can be accessed from anywhere. Moreover, an online C compiler can also be accessed with any device, such as a mobile phone or tablet.
In contrast, offline C compiler applications are mainly developed for computer OSes like Windows and macOS. So, these C compilers are more handy option to compile your C program.
Summing Up
Cyclic Redundancy Code is an important program to prevent data storage devices from getting corrupted. You should learn CRC programs in C and other data prevention algorithms as a learner. These algorithms are widely used in the tech industry. Moreover, these algorithms still have space for improvement so that you may develop a better or better version of an existing algorithm someday.
