A buffer is an area of computer memory that stores data temporarily between a fast system component and a slower peripheral device, such as between a processor and printer. This ensures the processor is not held up by the slower speeds of peripherals. Buffers also track the status of peripherals so the processor knows when data can be sent or received. Similarly, spoolers send data to fast hard disk storage before transmitting to peripherals, allowing users to continue working while data sends in the background, which is preferable for large data transfers or shared network peripherals.

2. Buffers A buffer is an area of computer memory that is allocated to transferring data between the computer and a peripheral . A buffer will be used when a fast acting part of the system is exchanging data with a slow acting device eg a printer

3. Buffers Most interfaces have buffers to store blocks of data while in transfer between the processor and the peripheral. This ensures that the processor is not held up by slow communications to and from the peripherals. The buffer must also keep the status of the peripheral so that the processor knows when it is able to send or receive data and when problems arise.

4. Buffers Most interfaces have buffers to store blocks of data while in transfer between the processor and the peripheral. This ensures that the processor is not held up by slow communications to and from the peripherals. The buffer must also keep the status of the peripheral so that the processor knows when it is able to send or receive data and when problems arise.

5. Spoolers Another approach to ensuring the processor is not held up by slow peripherals is to send data to be spooled . This means that the data is sent to fast backing storage (usually the hard disk). Data is then sent from the backing store to the peripheral in the gaps between processing actions (an example of this is background printing).

6. Spoolers The user can continue operating the computer while the data is being sent to the peripheral. This is preferred to buffering when large amounts of data is to be sent or if the peripheral is shared across a network.

7. Credits Higher Computing – Peripherals – Buffers and Spoolers Produced by P. Greene for the City of Edinburgh Council 2004 Adapted by M. Cunningham 2010