What is Buffering?

Buffering is a way of organizing an exchange, namely input and output of data in computing devices and computers. The buffer is used as a place for temporary storage of data. During data entry, some devices write data to the buffer, while others read data from the buffer. In the derivation, everything is exactly the opposite.

Where do we encounter buffering?

In fact, all processes in the PC are associated with this process. It is not easy for an uninformed person to understand what buffering is. However, it is very easy to watch it: the same movie upload online - the data is buffered, the movie is loaded into the cache and played, although it is not on the computer.

This operation allows the processes to perform data input and output independently of each other. Due to its usefulness, buffering is used in multifunctional OS.

Several of its types are used in computer graphics for input, output and image processing. Their implementation occurs hardware or software.

An example of buffering in the hardware is the modem's RAM, which is used for temporary storage of received and sent files.
An example of buffering in the software are multitasking OSes, where when entering data for printing, the files are queued in the print queue.

Advanced PC users need to know what buffering is.
In the field of information technology, there is always superficial information and in-depth information. Having understood what buffering is, you can go further and look more closely at its types themselves.

It is known that there is double and triple buffering. They will be discussed in the next subhead.

Triple buffering - what is it?

In computer graphics, this type of process under discussion is a kind of double buffering. The difference is only in the method of output of images. Triple allows you to avoid or reduce the number of artifacts. Also, the differences between double and triple buffering are also observed in image output speed.

The triple buffering method is also synchronization with the refresh rate of the screen. The third buffer is used here as a method of providing free space for change requests in the total amount of output graphics. It acts as a sort of storehouse. The triple buffering method requires more resources, but provides a consistent frame rate.

Three buffers are not the limit number. However, there is no need for 4 or more places for temporary storage of downloaded files, only 3 of them will always work actively. Therefore, the best option is triple buffering.

Consider what buffering is in games?

To transfer images of games, buffering is also used. In games, both double and triple are used. Double buffering is designed for weaker PCs and OSes, while triple - for more powerful ones.

If you use triple buffering on a weak OS, the game may be buggy. In other words, performance depends on what kind of process is used on your computer. Games are also different, with different requirements for PC and OS.

Selecting the kind of buffering is difficult enough, because game makers create their offspring using a variety of methods. Therefore, in gaming forums you can often hear about how a particular game does not work well with triple buffering, and vice versa.

Ideally, manufacturers must specify the system requirements of a particular game, its compatibility with various operating systems, support for buffering, and so on.

If the manufacturer did not give specific information about compatibility, you can check it yourself. In any case, only time is spent, the computer does not cause any harm. Incompatibility can be noticed almost immediately, as it is reflected in the braking of visualization and poor synchronization of the image with sound.

About Output Buffering

Buffering the output is quite a useful thing. This function consists in stacking the entire output of the script, adding cookie headers and other resulting script. After the processing of information is completed, all data is sent to the client in the reverse order, that is, first the headers, then the page and then the result of the script.

The possibilities that are opened by buffering output

1. Sending cookies from absolutely any place in the script.
2. Start the session at any time.
3. Data compression before sending to the client.

It should be remembered that compression will require additional processor resources. But the transmission speed will increase by 40% (depending on the number of pictures and text). It is known that pictures are compressed much worse than text. The output buffering is not enabled by default.

There are 2 methods to enable output buffering:

1. Suitable for those who own the server or who have access to the php.ini file. All that is required is to find the output_buffering directive in this file and set it to On.
2. The second way is to use ob_start () in a script, the output of which must be buffered.

So we figured out what buffering is.