bufferten

Bufferten is the definite form of the noun buffer in several Scandinavian languages and is used in computing to refer to a temporary storage area that holds data as it moves between producers and consumers or between devices. A buffert helps to absorb differences in data rate and latency, enabling smoother operation of systems that would otherwise be limited by a single component’s speed.

A bufferten can reside in memory, on disk, or in specialized hardware. Its primary purpose is to decouple processing stages, absorb bursts of data, and improve overall throughput and responsiveness. The size and management policy of a buffert determine how well the system balances latency, memory usage, and data integrity.

Common implementations include circular buffers (ring buffers), which reuse a fixed space to store data; double buffering, used in graphics and display pipelines to prevent tearing by rendering to a back buffer while the front buffer is displayed; and streaming buffers for audio and video to maintain continuous playback. In networking and I/O subsystems, buffers smooth jitter, manage flow control, and help align asynchronous operations.

Sizing and management are critical. A buffert that is too small can overflow or underflow, leading to data loss or stalls; one that is too large wastes memory and can increase latency. In concurrent environments, proper synchronization and thread safety are essential to prevent data races and inconsistencies.

See also: buffer, buffering, ring buffer, double buffering.