ShortBuffer

ShortBuffer is a class in the Java NIO (New Input/Output) package that provides a buffer for primitive short data types. Similar to other NIO buffer classes like ByteBuffer, IntBuffer, and CharBuffer, ShortBuffer offers an efficient way to handle sequences of shorts for input and output operations. It is a direct or non-direct buffer, meaning it can either be allocated directly by the operating system or managed by the Java Virtual Machine.

The primary purpose of ShortBuffer is to facilitate the transfer of short data between Java code and native code, or between different parts of a Java program. It allows for reading and writing short values in a structured and manageable manner. Key operations include getting and putting individual shorts, as well as bulk operations for transferring arrays of shorts or other buffers.

ShortBuffer utilizes a position, limit, and capacity to manage its contents. The capacity represents the total number of shorts the buffer can hold, the limit indicates the first element that should not be read or written, and the position marks the next element to be read or written. These markers are adjusted automatically by methods like get(), put(), flip(), and clear() to control the flow of data.

The `java.nio.ShortBuffer` class is part of the Java standard library and is commonly used in applications that require high-performance data manipulation, such as graphics processing, audio handling, and network programming where efficient handling of primitive data arrays is crucial.