BufferappendSourcenext

BufferappendSourcenext is a hypothetical function used in buffer-management libraries to transfer data by appending from the next available source buffer into a destination buffer.

It operates by keeping an internal index through a sequence of source buffers. Each invocation copies as much data as fits in the remaining space of the destination, advances to the next source when the current one is exhausted, and updates both buffers accordingly. If the destination becomes full before the current source is exhausted, the function returns and leaves the remaining data for a subsequent call. This design supports staged or streaming data assembly without creating intermediate copies.

Typical signature is illustrative: the function takes a destination pointer and its remaining capacity, a list or array of source buffers, and a small state object that records the current source index. It returns the number of bytes actually written, and updates the state to reflect consumed sources. Some implementations may also return a status flag to indicate end-of-sources or an error condition.

Common use cases include assembling data from multiple in-memory buffers for network transmission, preparing a composite payload from modular buffers, or implementing a non-blocking I/O loop that drains a queue of sources into a single sink. It is suitable for piping data between components without requiring full materialization of all sources into a single contiguous buffer.

Implementation notes: ensure thread safety if sources are shared, handle partial writes, consider zero-copy strategies when possible, and document ownership and lifetime of source buffers to prevent use-after-free errors.

See also: buffer append, source buffers, next in sequence.