Buffer

A buffer, otherwise known as a data buffer, is a region of memory (often located in the RAM) that temporarily stores data while it’s being transferred from one place to another. Buffers are often used when there is a discrepancy between the rate at which data is received and the rate at which it can be processed. For instance, when a computer downloads a video off the internet, it loads the first 25% of the file into a buffer. As the video begins to play, the computer continues downloading the remaining 75% and loading it into the buffer. This way users can view the video while it’s still downloading in the background, minimizing interruptions in playback. Without a buffer, users would have to wait for the entire file to be downloaded to begin viewing it.