Which error control technique is used by ECC memory?

ECC memory, or Error-Correcting Code memory, utilizes Hamming code as its underlying error control technique. Hamming code is specifically designed to detect and correct single-bit errors and can also detect two-bit errors in each data word. The method works by adding redundancy bits to the original data bits in a way that allows the system to identify which bit, if any, has been altered.

This capability is crucial in environments where data integrity is paramount, such as servers and high-reliability systems. By utilizing Hamming code, ECC memory can automatically correct errors without requiring intervention, thereby enhancing system reliability and performance. This contrasts with other error control techniques; for example, repetition codes simply replicate the data to improve reliability, checksums provide a method for error detection rather than correction, and cryptographic hash functions serve a different purpose related to data integrity and security rather than error correction in memory systems. Thus, Hamming code is the ideal choice for ECC memory due to its ability to both detect and correct errors effectively.