gebufferde

Gebufferde is a Dutch adjective derived from the verb bufferen, meaning that data or a data stream has been temporarily stored in memory to accommodate differences in processing speed between producers and consumers. The prefix ge- marks the participle form, and gebufferde is commonly used to describe something that has undergone buffering.

In computing and information technology, gebufferde data or streams are stored locally for a short period before being processed or consumed. This buffering helps to reduce jitter, smooth out irregular data arrival, and prevent data loss in situations where production and consumption rates differ. Common contexts include gebufferde videostreams, gebufferde audio streams, and gebufferde gegevensstromen in data pipelines or network applications. The concept is closely related to buffering, caching, and flow control, and it is implemented across software stacks, media players, and network protocols.

The use of gebufferde data introduces a trade-off between latency and reliability. While buffering can improve playback quality and throughput, it also adds startup delay and requires memory resources. Proper buffering strategies balance these factors based on the application's requirements, available memory, and network conditions. In practice, the term appears in technical documentation, configuration guides, and user-facing settings describing how much data is held in advance to maintain smooth operation.

See also: Buffer (computing), Buffering, Data buffering, Streaming.