A hard decoder includes an input data handler that receives and rearranges a low-density parity-check (LDPC) codeword, and a variable node updater that iteratively updates the rearranged LDPC codeword to generate an updated LDPC codeword during each decoding iteration of the rearranged LDPC codeword. The hard decoder further includes a syndrome generator that generates a syndrome vector associated with the updated LDPC codeword of each decoding iteration. During each decoding iteration, the rearranged LDPC codeword is updated based on a threshold value and the syndrome vector associated with the updated LDPC codeword of a previous decoding iteration and a validity of the updated LDPC codeword of the previous decoding iteration. The hard decoder further includes an output data handler that extracts a message from the updated LDPC codeword that is valid and outputs the extracted message.