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Framebuffer
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<p>A framebuffer (frame buffer, or sometimes framestore) is a portion of <a href="/facts/Random-access_memory/DuD4bxh6">random-access memory</a> (RAM) containing a <a href="/facts/Bitmap/Fr80ySnT">bitmap</a> that drives a video display. It is a <a href="/facts/Memory_buffer/tVy4j2Dc">memory buffer</a> containing data representing all the <a href="/facts/Pixel/UzwBvXBV">pixels</a> in a complete <a href="/facts/Video_frame/27Uqo8WN">video frame</a>. Modern <a href="/facts/Video_card/bcKfPyFt">video cards</a> contain framebuffer circuitry in their cores. This circuitry converts an in-memory bitmap into a <a href="/facts/Video_signal/F1AV8ben">video signal</a> that can be displayed on a computer monitor. </p><p>In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, a screen buffer is a part of <a href="/facts/Computer_memory/hQKVQ51J">computer memory</a> used by a computer application for the representation of the content to be shown on the <a href="/facts/Computer_display/NRaTDFHc">computer display</a>. The screen buffer may also be called the video buffer, the regeneration buffer, or regen buffer for short. Screen buffers should be distinguished from <a href="/facts/Video_memory/koI9FGo5">video memory</a>. To this end, the term off-screen buffer is also used. </p><p>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 <a href="/facts/Binary_image/qaKaPntY">binary</a> (monochrome), 4-bit <a href="/facts/Palette_(computing)/xwFo1VUI">palettized</a>, 8-bit palettized, 16-bit <a href="/facts/High_color/kv96eBp8">high color</a> and 24-bit <a href="/facts/Color_depth/0X7zI9BP">true color</a> formats. An additional <a href="/facts/Alpha_channel/7uUBtjrt">alpha channel</a> is sometimes used to retain information about pixel transparency. The total amount of memory required for the framebuffer depends on the <a href="/facts/Display_resolution/8LQTWvl3">resolution</a> of the output signal, and on the <a href="/facts/Color_depth/0X7zI9BP">color depth</a> or palette size. </p>