What does FEC stand for in the context of communications?

FEC stands for Forward Error Correction, which is a crucial concept in communications. It refers to a technique used in digital communication systems to improve data reliability. By encoding the data with additional bits before transmission, FEC enables the receiver to detect and correct errors without needing a retransmission request. This is particularly beneficial in scenarios where retransmission is difficult or impossible due to time constraints or the nature of the communication channel.

Forward Error Correction allows systems to maintain the integrity of the data over noisy or unreliable channels, like satellite communications or mobile networks, by providing a robust mechanism to recover the original information despite potential interference or distortion that may occur during transmission. This enhances the efficiency and performance of the communication system significantly.