A checksum is a value that is used to verify the integrity of data. It is calculated by adding up all of the bytes in a data file and then taking the remainder when the sum is divided by a certain number. If the checksum of a file changes, then it means that the file has been corrupted.
There are many different ways to calculate a checksum, but the most common method is to use the CRC32 algorithm. This algorithm is used by many different software programs, including Windows. When you download a file from the internet, Windows will calculate the checksum of the file and compare it to the checksum that is stored in the file’s header. If the two checksums match, then Windows will know that the file has not been corrupted.