RAM parity checking is the storing of a redundant parity bit representing the parity of a small amount of computer data stored in random-access memory, and the subsequent comparison of the stored and the computed parity to detect whether a data error has occurred.

Random-access memory is a form of electronic computer memory that can be read and changed in any order, typically used to store working data and machine code. A random-access memory device allows data items to be read or written in almost the same amount of time irrespective of the physical location of data inside the memory, in contrast with other direct-access data storage media, where the time required to read and write data items varies significantly depending on their physical locations on the recording medium, due to mechanical limitations such as media rotation speeds and arm movement.