checksums

A checksum is a value calculated from a set of data, like a file or message, to verify its integrity. When data is sent or stored, a checksum is generated and attached to it. Upon receiving or accessing the data, the checksum can be recalculated and compared to the original. If they match, the data is likely unaltered; if not, it may have been corrupted or tampered with. Checksums are commonly used in computing and data transfer to ensure accurate and reliable information exchange.