Forward Error Correction (FEC) codes such as Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes provide a means to control errors in data transmissions over unreliable or noisy communication channels. The LDPC Encoder/Decoder core provides an optimized block for encoding and soft-decision decoding of these codes. Custom and standardized LDPC codes are supported through the ability to specify the parity check matrix through an AXI4-Lite bus.