Buffers

Buffers are mechanisms that hold data, signals, or chemical species temporarily to smooth mismatches between different parts of a system. The term is used in computing, chemistry, electronics, and biology, and in each field it denotes a means of stabilizing flow or environment against abrupt changes.

In computing, a buffer stores data as it moves between producers and consumers, such as a disk cache, network socket, or display frame buffer. Buffers reduce latency and improve throughput by absorbing bursts of data and compensating for differing processing speeds. Common forms include circular buffers, which reuse space, and double buffers, which allow one buffer to be filled while another is read. Management policies and memory overhead influence performance and risk of overflow or stalling.

In chemistry, a buffer solution resists changes in pH when acids or bases are added. It typically contains a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak base and its conjugate acid. The Henderson–Hasselbalch relation links pH to pKa and relative concentrations. Buffer capacity depends on total buffer concentration and its pH relative to the pKa. Typical buffers include acetate, phosphate, and bicarbonate systems used in laboratories and physiology.

In electronics, a buffer is a device that isolates or strengthens a signal, such as a logic buffer or a buffer amplifier, preventing loading effects between stages. In biology, buffers maintain pH in blood and tissues; common biological buffers include bicarbonate, phosphate, and protein buffers, which help stabilize enzyme activity and metabolic processes.