buffer storage
- noun
- /ˈbʌfər ˈstɔrɪdʒ/
- Specialized
- Improving the buffer storage can enhance the system's data transfer efficiency.
Examples
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The buffer storage is essential for data transfer.
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The printer's buffer storage helped prevent data loss during the large document transfer.
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If the buffer storage fills up, new data may be delayed until space becomes available.
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Can you increase the buffer storage size?
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The computer's buffer storage holds data temporarily while downloading files.
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To improve performance, we increased the size of the buffer storage for the application.
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Data is held in buffer storage until it can be processed by the CPU.
Synonyms
A place in a computer that holds data temporarily while it moves
A small, fast part of a computer that stores often used data to make access quicker
A part of a computer's memory that holds data for a short time while it moves between devices
A part of a computer's memory that stores keys you press until the computer reads them
A part of a computer that holds information waiting to be printed
An area of computer memory that stores the picture shown on the screen
How Temporary
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derived from combining 'buffer' (a region holding temporary data) with 'storage' (an area for storing information); a learner who knows both words can infer this refers to storage used temporarily to hold data during transfers. Although somewhat technical, the noun-noun compounding follows normal compositional patterns and is cross-linguistically relatable, making the sense predictable.
Etymology
The term buffer storage comes from the idea of a buffer as a soft cushion or small waiting room and storage as a place to keep things. Imagine data standing in that little waiting room in the computer memory before moving on, and that's why it means 'a temporary place in memory for data during transfer'.