Talk:Data buffer

Major edits
The article was labeled as "Unclear/Confusing". (I agree.) I've done some heavy editing to it, including the removal of some parts that really didn't have to do with buffers (strayed from the subject) and generally lended themselves to confusing the reader, or were poorly written. The article could still use some external links to other references.

The "Types" section still needs work - Circular buffer is all that is there at the moment, and there is no article for that link. (Which there used to be... it was marked as a copyright violation... I might work on that next) Are there other types of buffers? I implemented a buffer once that I personally named a "Chunk Buffer" - I have no idea if this is the correct name or not. Essentially, it buffered data in chunks, allocating chunks as data was written to it. Chunks had a minimum size, but could be allocated larger if a large write occurred. If there is a real name/use to this kind of buffering, someone add it. I just don't know what the formal name is.

I'd be grateful if someone would proof the page, and if they feel it is ready, remove the Confusing tag. I may do this myself sometime later, if nothing happens.

Edit: And would double buffering (as in video games, where the screen is rendered first to an offscreen surface, and then blitted en masse to the screen) be considerable as a type of buffer?

Deathanatos 04:02, 8 May 2007 (UTC)


 * I looked up buffers 5/14/15 and for what its worth found the article very helpful. It gave me enough context (e.g. comparison with caches) that my questions were answered.  lifeform (talk) 23:44, 14 May 2015 (UTC)

Merge with data and telecom buffers
It seems to me that Buffer (telecommunication) and Data buffer are basically talking about the same thing, and should be merged. People from the telecom/optical world might be more used to thinking of buffers as dedicated components, while programmers might usually think of them as regions in memory, but the ultimate purpose is the same: A thing that accumulates data temporarily, until it is sent elsewhere. As such, they are best treated in one article. What do others think? — DragonHawk (talk|hist) 01:13, 7 October 2008 (UTC)


 * My feeling is this point should be addressed in the articles (and these articles could reference each other) but the articles should not be merged. I suspect that the contexts are somewhat different and require separate treatment. It's nice to be able to look up the specific term of interest and have an article devoted to only that.  lifeform (talk) 00:11, 15 May 2015 (UTC)

layman definition
There's a youtube help page that says "A buffer is a section of memory in your computer which allows for the simultaneous writing and reading of information". If this is technically correct, I think it could be included in the introduction of the article, since it would help make the concept clearer for non-technical audiences. What do you think? --Waldir talk 08:56, 19 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Youtube here is correctly describing a specific use or operating mode of a buffer but, alas, not supplying a definition.  Hmm, maybe, however, it can be incorporated.  Just not overused.  Jim.henderson (talk) 03:15, 21 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Sure. So, can you do that integration? :) --Waldir talk 23:39, 26 March 2010 (UTC)
 * I gave it a shot. Jim.henderson (talk) 15:49, 28 March 2010 (UTC)

Good article 5/14/15
I looked up buffers 5/14/15 and for what its worth found this article very helpful as written. It gave me enough context (e.g. comparison with caches) that a lot of my confusion was cleared up. lifeform (talk) 23:59, 14 May 2015 (UTC)