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Software Engineering vocabulary · Data Structures and Algorithms

Ring buffer

Meaning in software engineering, with examples

nounCommon term

In software engineering, ring buffer means: A fixed-capacity buffer whose read or write position wraps back to the beginning when it reaches the end.

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How it is used

Used in streaming and producer-consumer systems. A full buffer may overwrite, reject or block according to its policy.

Example sentences

  1. The audio callback reads samples from a ring buffer filled by another thread.

    The shared buffer separates sample production from time-sensitive playback.

  2. Our ring buffer overwrites the oldest diagnostic event when it becomes full.

    Overwriting is this buffer's chosen policy, not a requirement of every ring buffer.

Common collocations

  • ring buffer capacity
  • ring buffer overflow
  • queueA data structure where the first item added is the first one taken out (FIFO), like people waiting in line. Also a system that holds tasks or messages until they are processed.
  • arrayAn ordered collection of items stored one after another, where each item can be reached by its position number, called an index.

More terms: Data Structures and Algorithms

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