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Variable-length buffer
open-in-new
<p>In <a href="/facts/Telecommunications/vxoj1cxR">telecommunications</a>, a variable length buffer or elastic buffer is a <a href="/facts/Buffer_(telecommunication)/tVy4j2Dc">buffer</a> into which <a href="/facts/Data/AUBFN97o">data</a> may be entered at one rate and removed at another rate without changing the data <a href="/facts/Sequence/gV2S4uqp">sequence</a>. </p><p>Most <a href="/facts/FIFO_(computing_and_electronics)/RctvBNgE">first-in first-out</a> (FIFO) <a href="/facts/Data_storage_device/uCvJ6nrq"> storage devices</a> are variable-length buffers in that the input rate may be variable while the <a href="/facts/Output_(computing)/WQTE8Jas">output</a> rate is constant or the output rate may be variable while the input rate is constant. Various clocking and control systems are used to allow control of <a href="/facts/Buffer_underflow/nbhWvM3h">underflow</a> or <a href="/facts/Buffer_overflow/uMFduL4B">overflow</a> conditions. </p>