outputbuffer

noun

UK /ˈaʊtpʊt ˈbʌfə/

US /ˈaʊtpʊt ˈbʌfər/

A place where a computer keeps words or pictures for a short time before showing them.

The program stores the text in the output buffer before printing it to the screen.

SYNONYMS

output store output cache output queue output memory

RELATED WORDS

buffer input buffer memory data stream cache

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A temporary holding area for data that is being sent to a device such as a printer or display.

The printer's output buffer filled up, so the job paused for a moment.

3. A region of memory used to collect results before they are written to a file or network.

The server flushed its output buffer to the log file every few seconds.

4. In graphics, a buffer that holds the final image before it is shown on the screen.

The game engine renders the scene into the output buffer and then swaps it to the display.