Homonym: Parity (Equality)
Parity refers to the concept of equality or equivalence between two or more items. In mathematics, it often relates to whether a number is even or odd. An even number can be divided by two without a remainder, while an odd number cannot. This classification helps in various mathematical operations and algorithms.
In computing, parity can also refer to a method of error detection in data transmission. A parity bit is added to a string of binary data to ensure that the total number of 1s is even or odd, depending on the chosen system. This helps identify errors during data transfer, enhancing reliability in systems like computer networks and data storage.