Dictionary of Accounting Terms: parity check
parity check
test conducted by checking a unit of data (e.g., a word or a byte) for even or odd parity to ascertain whether a mistake has taken place in reading, writing, or transmitting information. For instance, if data is written, the computed parity bit is compared to the parity bit already appended to the data. If these match, it indicates the data are correct. If they do not agree, a parity error exists.
