- Error detection method, detects possible data loss or 3rd party tampering - Checksum mostly refers to the [[Hashing|Hash]] of some value, to make sure the data is consistent when it gets to the other end - you take the "checksum" before data is sent, then take it again for the received data - a difference means something is wrong https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5816768/checksum-explanation https://pg-p.ctme.caltech.edu/blog/cybersecurity/what-is-checksum