Buffer

Meaning of Buffer

Dictionary

Buffer is an English term that is not part of the dictionary of the DigoPaul but is frequently used in our language. In electronics, a buffer is a device used to avoid the effect of loading (also known as regulation) in a circuit.

According to DigoPaul, the buffer, in this sense, is an operational amplifier that works as a follower and that makes it possible to compensate for current losses through the voltage of its power supply.

For computing, the data buffer is the memory location of a digital device or a computer that is reserved for the temporary storage of information. While the data is in the buffer, it waits to be processed.

This type of buffer has now become one of the essential elements that all computers have and, therefore, a fundamental part of our day to day since we use them both for work and for simple leisure. Specifically, the reason that explains the importance of the buffer in these devices is that thanks to it, actions such as listening to various music on speakers, receiving and sending various data over the Internet, or acting as a storage mechanism can be performed.

Sometimes the one with the disk cache is often confused but, although both can work as their opposite, the former is characterized by allowing the stored data to be saved and made use of so that the user waiting time is reduced.

An example of a buffer occurs when trying to run audio or video applications directly from the Internet, without downloading them to the computer. This practice, known as streaming, requires the use of a buffer to reduce the risk of playback being cut off due to bandwidth problems.

In the area of chemistry, a buffer is a system made up of a weak acid and its conjugate base (or vice versa) that opposes large variations in pH in an aqueous solution.

As a chemical buffer, it is also known that in this aforementioned scientific field that, among other things, is identified because it has its own effective PH range. This, for its part, will be closely related to the balance of the acid that has been used.

Specifically, this characteristic will be obtained through the calculation. To do this, in most cases, the so-called Henderson-Hasselbalch equation will be used. This is based on the constant acidity, the concentration of salt, lactic acid…

There are many types of chemical buffers that exist as would be the case, for example, of acetic acid-acetate anion. And all this without forgetting that there are also other equally significant in the human body such as phosphate, bicarbonate, amino acids, hemoglobin or proteins.

The buffer of a Geographic Information System (GIS or, in English, GIS by Geographic Information System), finally, is the polygon framing area of influence is to taking a certain distance from a point, line or other polygon.

Buffer