Editing Framebuffer (section)

{{short description|Portion of random-access memory containing a bitmap that drives a video display}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}

[[File:Sun sbus cgsix framebuffer.jpg|thumb|Sun TGX Framebuffer]]

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|date=June 1998 }}</ref> containing a [[bitmap]] that drives a video display. It is a [[memory buffer]] containing data representing all the [[pixel]]s in a complete [[video frame]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sunhelp.org/faq/FrameBuffer.html#00 |title=Frame Buffer FAQ |access-date=14 May 2014 }}</ref> Modern [[video card]]s 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|access-date=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|access-date=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 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 size.