The keyboard buffer is a small memory partition that captures keystrokes for a fraction of a second to ensure accuracy when translating to the screen. It does not capture all keystrokes, and can be manipulated or spied on by malicious programs. If full, the user must type slower or modify the buffer threshold.
A keyboard buffer is a very small partition of memory that is usually stored in computer memory in random access memory (RAM) and captures all keystrokes performed on a keyboard. Keystrokes are remembered because there is a slight delay between when the key is pressed and when it appears on the screen. By capturing the keystroke, the processing is easier and more accurate for the computer. Unlike what a user sees on screen, not all keystrokes are captured, such as when a user hits the “Delete” key. The keyboard buffer can be manipulated to hold more information, and there are even malicious programs designed to spy on buffer data.
The keyboard buffer takes up a very small portion of memory, because it only stores keystrokes for a fraction of a second. Once a keystroke has been processed, the buffer removes that keystroke memory. In this way, the computer ensures that there are no inaccuracies when translating the keystroke from the keyboard to the computer screen and also helps the processor process the keyboard data.
When someone clicks a button on a keyboard, that stroke goes into the keyboard buffer, but not all characters are captured. Keystrokes that modify text, such as the “Delete” or “Spacebar” keys, do not enter the keyboard buffer. This is because these keys work to edit characters, while the buffer is made to hold readable characters only. If someone were to read the buffer memory, it would seem garbled at first, because it would be a big block of unorganized characters with no spaces.
While the keyboard buffer may be garbled, there are programs available that can steal the buffer data. This usually has a malicious purpose, such as corporate espionage, but is also used by concerned parents to watch what their child is typing on the computer. These programs take and copy information from the buffer and store that data somewhere away from the buffer. Unlike the buffer, which temporarily stores keystrokes, these programs will store information until the user clears it.
Sometimes, on older computers with low RAM or computers that experience excessive amounts of typing, an error may appear stating that the keyboard buffer is full. In this case, the user must type slower, upgrade RAM, or change the buffer threshold. While the solution is different for each operating system (OS), this is commonly done by modifying the buffer register data.
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