Buffer management is the process of controlling a temporary storage area, or buffer, that holds data while it is being transferred between systems or processed at different speeds. In streaming, for example, a buffer stores a small amount of upcoming audio or video so playback can continue when the network briefly slows down. The system continuously adds and removes data based on available bandwidth, processing speed, and consumption rate.
Effective buffer management is important in applications such as video streaming, networking, databases, and real-time systems. Poor management can cause delays, interruptions, or memory problems, while well-managed buffers help maintain smooth data flow and responsive performance.
