BUF

Buf is an abbreviation commonly used in computing to refer to a buffer, a temporary storage area for data as it is moved or processed. A buffer helps accommodate speed differences between producers and consumers, reduces latency, and smooths data transfer.

Buffers come in various forms, including memory buffers, disk buffers, and network buffers. Some are fixed in size and operate as ring or circular buffers, which overwrite old data when full to maintain continuous operation. Buffering is a central technique in input/output systems, streaming, and data processing to manage asynchronous or bursty data flows.

In programming, buf is a frequent variable name for a buffer. Most programming languages provide buffered I/O facilities to improve performance. Examples include Python’s buffered readers and writers, Java’s BufferedInputStream and BufferedWriter, Go’s buffered I/O in the bufio package, and C’s standard library FILE streams. Buffers are typically read from or written to in chunks rather than one item at a time.

Other uses of BUF or buf include the IATA airport code BUF for Buffalo Niagara International Airport in New York. In chemistry and related fields, buffers (buffer solutions) help maintain stable pH levels in a solution. The term is also used more generally to denote buffer-related concepts in various technical documents.