2.2 · Lesson 2 of 5
Checksums
Syllabus 2.2.3
What this lesson covers
- Describe checksums and echo checks
Key vocabulary
- Checksum
- A value calculated from all the data in a file or block and sent with it, so the receiver can check for errors.
- Checksum algorithm
- The set of steps used to calculate a checksum. The sender and receiver must use the same one.
- Hash
- The code a checksum algorithm produces, often a long string of letters and numbers.
- MD5 and SHA-1
- Two common checksum algorithms, often used to check that downloaded software is complete and unchanged.
- Recalculate
- The receiver runs the received data through the same algorithm to produce its own checksum.
- Corrupted
- Data that was changed by an error during transmission.
Check your learning
- Quick check: 4 questions
- Key vocabulary test: 6 terms
- Activity 1: Calculate and compare · 6 questions
- Activity 2: Checksums quiz · 8 questions
- Activity 3: How a checksum works · drag and drop