What is the purpose of a buffer in computing?

A buffer in computing is a temporary storage area used to manage data while it is being transferred between two locations. Its primary purpose is to handle differences in the rate of data flow between processes, which may otherwise result in data loss or delays. For example, when data is being read from a slower device, like a hard drive, and sent to a faster device, like RAM, a buffer allows the fast device to continue operating without interruption by storing incoming data until it can be processed at the appropriate rate.

This mechanism is especially important in scenarios like audio or video streaming, where continuous data flow is crucial for quality and performance. Buffers help in smoothing out inconsistencies and ensuring that data can be processed efficiently, thus managing transfer rates effectively. Buffers do not permanently store data, enhance video quality, or directly increase processing speed; rather, they facilitate smoother operation by acting as an intermediary that absorbs data fluctuations.