# CRC

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crc
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

Stands for Cyclic Redundancy Check. A way for computers to check if data has been changed or damaged during a transfer. It works like a digital fingerprint for a file.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Cyclic Redundancy Check. An error-detecting code used in digital networks and storage devices to detect accidental changes to raw data. It involves a mathematical calculation that produces a short, fixed-length check value based on the contents of a data block.

## Examples

- The computer found a CRC error while downloading the file.
- Network protocols use a CRC to ensure that packets of data arrive without any corruption from electrical interference.
- If the calculated checksum does not match the value stored in the file header, the system reports a CRC mismatch and requests a retransmission of the corrupted data block.

## Usage notes

- Often appears in the phrase 'CRC error' or 'CRC check'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.