what is buffer in java

In Java, a buffer is a container for data chunks of specific primitive types. It is an abstract class with concrete subclasses such as ByteBuffer, IntBuffer, and CharBuffer. Buffers are used for interacting with NIO channels, and they act as endpoints to the channels. Buffers are a block of memory into which data can be written and later read again. The essential properties of a buffer are its capacity, limit, and position. The benefits of using a buffer include the in-built features of limit, position, or mark, which are not present in arrays or lists. Buffers make the NIO package more efficient and faster than classic IO because they support asynchronous and concurrent flow of data. The primary parameters that define a Java NIO buffer are its limit, capacity, and current position. Buffers are created by either allocation or wrapping.