Plain English Meaning
A built-in test that checks whether a file or data block is still exactly as it was made, or whether something in it has been changed or damaged.
Full Definition
A mathematical check applied to a block of digital data to detect whether it has been changed, corrupted, or tampered with. A short value is calculated from the original data and stored or transmitted with it; the receiving system recalculates the value and compares the two. If they match, the data is treated as intact. If they differ, the data is rejected as corrupted.
Context Anchor
Seen in navigation database and instrument procedure database discussions, especially when data is being packaged, transferred, loaded, or checked by a database provider or avionics system.