Hamming codes are a type of error-correcting code used in digital communication to detect and correct errors in data transmission. Named after Richard Hamming, who developed the concept in the 1950s, these codes add extra bits to a message, allowing the receiver to identify and fix errors that may occur during transmission. The key idea behind Hamming codes is to use parity bits, which are additional bits that help check the integrity of the data. By organizing these bits in a specific way, the system can pinpoint the exact location of an error, ensuring that the original message is accurately reconstructed.