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.

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