CharBuffer

CharBuffer is a class in the Java NIO (New Input/Output) package that represents a buffer of characters. Unlike standard Java strings, CharBuffer provides a more flexible and efficient way to handle sequences of characters, especially in I/O operations. It is part of the buffer hierarchy in Java NIO, which also includes ByteBuffer, ShortBuffer, IntBuffer, LongBuffer, FloatBuffer, and DoubleBuffer.

A CharBuffer acts as a container for character data. It allows for reading from and writing to a contiguous sequence of characters. Key features of CharBuffer include its ability to manage a position, limit, and capacity. The capacity is the total number of characters the buffer can hold. The limit is the index of the first element that should not be read or written. The position is the index of the next element to be read or written. These markers enable efficient manipulation of the buffer's contents.

CharBuffer can be created in several ways, including allocating a new buffer of a specified size or wrapping an existing character array or string. It offers methods for accessing individual characters, reading multiple characters at once, and writing characters into the buffer. For I/O operations, CharBuffer can be directly used with channels, facilitating the transfer of character data between the buffer and external sources or destinations. This makes it particularly useful for tasks involving text processing, file manipulation, and network communication where character data needs to be managed efficiently.