Buffer/Buffering Definition | Photography Glossary

Buffer/Buffering: In a camera, the buffer is the memory used to store image data before/as it is written to a memory card. The size of the buffer determines how many images can be taken before the camera runs out of room and must pause image capture in order to let the camera catch up. When firing a rapid burst of images, it is possible to fill the buffer with images faster than the camera can write them to the memory card. Buffering is the name for the process in which the buffer is used to temporarily store files as they are written to the memory card.