What is the purpose of a checksum?

The purpose of a checksum is to verify data integrity during transmission. A checksum is a value calculated from a data set and sent along with the data. Upon receipt, the receiving system recalculates the checksum based on the received data and compares it to the original checksum that was sent. If both values match, it indicates that the data has not been altered, corrupted, or lost during transmission. This method is essential in ensuring that data remains intact, especially as it travels across various networks where errors can occur due to various factors.

The other options do not align with the primary function of checksums. Compressing data relates to reducing the size of the data for transmission purposes. Enhancing the speed of data transfer involves improving network performance or optimizing data flow techniques, which are separate from integrity verification. Measuring network latency refers to the time delay experienced in the transmission of data across the network, a different concern from ensuring the data is error-free. These functions are important in their own contexts but do not address the specific role of checksums.