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buffer

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buffer

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Buffer  \Buff"er\  (b[u^]f"[~e]r),  n.  [Prop  a  striker.  See 
  {Buffet}  a  blow.] 
  1.  (Mech.) 
  a  An  elastic  apparatus  or  fender,  for  deadening  the  jar 
  caused  by  the  collision  of  bodies;  as  a  buffer  at  the 
  end  of  a  railroad  car 
  b  A  pad  or  cushion  forming  the  end  of  a  fender,  which 
  receives  the  blow;  --  sometimes  called  {buffing 
  apparatus}. 
 
  2.  One  who  polishes  with  a  buff. 
 
  3.  A  wheel  for  buffing;  a  buff. 
 
  4.  A  good-humored,  slow-witted  fellow;  --  usually  said  of  an 
  elderly  man.  [Colloq.]  --Dickens. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  buffer 
  n  1:  an  ionic  compound  that  resists  changes  in  its  pH 
  2:  an  inclined  metal  frame  at  the  front  of  a  locomotive  to 
  clear  the  track  [syn:  {fender},  {cowcatcher},  {pilot}] 
  3:  (computer  science)  a  part  of  RAM  used  for  temporary  storage 
  of  data  that  is  waiting  to  be  sent  to  a  device;  used  to 
  compensate  for  differences  in  the  rate  of  flow  of  data 
  between  components  of  a  computer  system  [syn:  {buffer 
  storage},  {buffer  store}] 
  4:  a  power  tool  used  to  buff  surfaces  [syn:  {polisher}] 
  5:  a  cushion-like  device  that  reduces  shock  due  to  contact 
  [syn:  {fender}] 
  v  1:  add  a  buffer  to  of  solutions;  "buffered  saline  solution  for 
  the  eyes" 
  2:  protect  from  impact;  "cushion  the  blow"  [syn:  {cushion},  {soften}] 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  buffer 
 
  1.  An  area  of  memory  used  for  storing  messages.  Typically,  a 
  buffer  will  have  other  attributes  such  as  an  input  pointer 
  (where  new  data  will  be  written  into  the  buffer),  and  output 
  pointer  (where  the  next  item  will  be  read  from)  and/or  a  count 
  of  the  space  used  or  free  Buffers  are  used  to  decouple 
  processes  so  that  the  reader  and  writer  may  operate  at 
  different  speeds  or  on  different  sized  blocks  of  data. 
 
  There  are  many  different  algorithms  for  using  buffers,  e.g. 
  first-in  first-out  (FIFO  or  shelf),  last-in  first-out  (LIFO  or 
  stack),  double  buffering  (allowing  one  buffer  to  be  read  while 
  the  other  is  being  written),  cyclic  buffer  (reading  or  writing 
  past  the  end  wraps  around  to  the  beginning). 
 
  2.  An  electronic  device  to  provide  compatibility  between  two 
  signals,  e.g.  changing  voltage  levels  or  current  capability.




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