The present disclosure discloses a data storage device having error detection and correction capabilities. The data storage device includes an information encoder/decoder having error checking circuitry to determine whether one or more errors present in an input datastream. When the one or more errors are present in the input datastream, the information encoder/decoder activates error correction circuitry to correct the one or more errors when present in the input datastream. Otherwise, when the one or more errors are not present in the input datastream, the information encoder/decoder deactivates the error correction circuitry. This activation and deactivation conserves power when compared to conventional data storage devices. Any error correction circuitry, if present, in these conventional data storage devices continuously remain active even when the one or more errors are not present in the input datastream.