Using error correcting codes for parity purposes

Software that combines parity bits with error correcting codes (ECC) such that a subset of ECC bits is also used for parity purposes, by performing the following steps: (i) providing a first set of redundant bit(s) in a data block, where the first set of redundant bit(s) is adapted to detect and/or correct errors in the data block; (ii) providing, within the first set of redundant bit(s), a first sub-set of parity bit(s), where the first sub-set of parity bit(s) is adapted to provide single bit error detection for the data block; and (iii) determining, based, at least in part, on a first set of data read requirements, whether to use the first set of redundant bit(s) and/or the first sub-set of parity bit(s) to detect and/or correct potential errors while reading data on the data block.