what is buffer

10 months ago 30
Nature

A buffer can refer to two different concepts:

  1. In chemistry, a buffer is a solution that can resist changes in pH upon the addition of an acidic or basic component. It is able to neutralize small amounts of added acid or base, thus maintaining the pH of the solution relatively stable. Buffer solutions are used in a wide variety of chemical applications to keep pH at a nearly constant value. They are also important in biological and medical contexts, as most biological reactions and enzymes require specific pH ranges to work properly/Acids_and_Bases/Buffers).

  2. In computing, a buffer is a section of computer memory for temporarily storing information. It is used to accept information at one rate and deliver it at another. For example, in the context of streaming video, the buffer continues to download the video while the computer starts playing it, ensuring smooth playback.

These two definitions illustrate the diverse applications of the term "buffer" in different fields.