Error-correcting codes are techniques used in computer science and telecommunications to detect and correct errors that may occur during data transmission or storage. These codes add extra bits to the original data, allowing the system to identify and fix mistakes without needing to resend the entire message. This is crucial for maintaining data integrity, especially in noisy environments where errors are more likely to happen. There are various types of error-correcting codes, such as Hamming codes and Reed-Solomon codes, each with its own method for encoding and decoding information. By using these codes, systems can ensure that the data received is accurate, improving reliability in applications like digital communication and data storage.