Hamming distance is a crucial concept in error correction codes, representing the minimum number of bit changes required to transform one valid codeword into another. It is defined as the number of positions at which the corresponding bits differ. For example, the Hamming distance between the binary strings 10101
and 10011
is 2, since they differ in the third and fourth bits. In error correction, a higher Hamming distance between codewords implies better error detection and correction capabilities; specifically, a Hamming distance can correct up to errors. Consequently, understanding and calculating Hamming distances is essential for designing efficient error-correcting codes, as it directly impacts the robustness of data transmission and storage systems.
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