What does "Hamming Metric" mean?
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The Hamming metric is a way to measure how different two strings of the same length are. It counts the number of positions where the corresponding symbols are different. For example, if you have two strings like "10101" and "10011", the Hamming distance between them is 2, because they differ at two places.
Importance
This metric is useful in coding theory, which is the study of how information is sent and received. It helps in detecting errors that might occur when data is transmitted. By using the Hamming metric, codes can be created that allow for error detection and correction, ensuring that messages are received accurately.
Applications
The Hamming metric finds applications in various fields like computer science, telecommunications, and data storage. It helps improve the reliability of systems by making sure that any mistakes in data can be spotted and fixed.