Quantum Error Correction Survey

Abstract

This survey examines quantum error correction (QEC) as a cross-layer engineering problem for scalable fault-tolerant quantum computing and protected quantum communication. It covers code and noise models, hardware platforms and physical-integration constraints, real-time decoding and control, system-scale resource limits, and QEC for quantum communication. Across these areas, the survey uses a three-stage analytical lens consisting of physical realizability, real-time executability, and system-scale or end-to-end utility, together with common criteria including logical reliability, timing and throughput, quantum and classical resource overhead, connectivity and data movement, physical-integration and power constraints, and communication rate and fidelity. Overall, the survey shows that scalable QEC depends on coordinated advances across codes, devices, control, decoding, architecture, and communication.