Framebuffer: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:49, 10 February 2020

Revision as of 21:57, 16 April 2020

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A '''framebuffer''' ('''frame buffer''', or sometimes '''framestore''') is a portion of [[random-access memory]] (RAM)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/F/frame_buffer.html|title=What is frame buffer? A Webopedia Definition|work=webopedia.com}}</ref> containing a [[bitmap]] that drives a video display. It is a [[Data buffer|memory buffer]] containing a complete [[Film frame|frame]] of data.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sunhelp.org/faq/FrameBuffer.html#00 |title=Frame Buffer FAQ |accessdate=14 May 2014 }}</ref> Modern [[video cards]] contain framebuffer circuitry in their cores. This circuitry converts an in-memory bitmap into a [[video signal]] that can be displayed on a computer monitor.

In [[computing]], a '''screen buffer''' is a part of [[computer memory]] used by a computer application for the representation of the content to be shown on the [[computer display]].<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=.NET Framework Solutions: In Search of the Lost Win32 API|author=Mueller, J.|date=2002|publisher=Wiley|isbn=9780782141344|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XYQruTc6_44C|page=160|accessdate=2015-04-21}}</ref> The screen buffer may also be called the '''video buffer''', the '''regeneration buffer''', or '''regen buffer''' for short.<ref name="smartcomputing">{{cite web|url=http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/dictionary/detail.asp?searchtype=2&DicID=10421&RefType=Dictionary&guid=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324192310/http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/dictionary/detail.asp?searchtype=2&DicID=10421&RefType=Dictionary&guid= |archive-date=2012-03-24 |url-status=dead|title=Smart Computing Dictionary Entry - video buffer|accessdate=2015-04-21}}</ref> Screen buffers should be distinguished from [[video memory]]. To this end, the term '''off-screen buffer''' is also used.

The information in the buffer typically consists of color values for every [[pixel]] to be shown on the display. Color values are commonly stored in 1-bit [[binary image|binary]] (monochrome), 4-bit [[palette (computing)|palettized]], 8-bit palettized, 16-bit [[high color]] and 24-bit [[Color depth#True color .2824-bit.29|true color]] formats. An additional [[Alpha compositing|alpha channel]] is sometimes used to retain information about pixel transparency. The total amount of memory required for the framebuffer depends on the [[Display resolution|resolution]] of the output signal, and on the [[color depth]] or [[Palette (computing)|palette]] size.