# keyboard buffer

> section of computer memory used to hold keystrokes before they are processed

**Wikidata**: [Q350413](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q350413)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_buffer)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/keyboard-buffer

## Summary
A keyboard buffer is a section of computer memory used to hold keystrokes before they are processed. It is a specific area within computer memory that temporarily stores user keyboard input until software or hardware consumes it.

## Key Facts
- Keyboard buffer is a subclass of computer memory.  
- It is defined as a section of computer memory used to hold keystrokes before they are processed.  
- Parent class "computer memory" is a physical device used to store information for immediate use in a digital electronic device.  
- Wikipedia title: "Keyboard buffer".  
- Wikidata description: "section of computer memory used to hold keystrokes before they are processed".  
- Wikipedia language articles exist in at least English, German, Kazakh, and Polish.  
- c64_wiki_id: Tastaturpuffer.  
- freebase_id: /m/01x07j (reference metadata includes publication_date: 2013-10-28).  
- microsoft_academic_id (discontinued): 2778746186.  
- Sitelink count for this entity (across sources listed) is 4. Parent class "computer memory" has a sitelink_count of 60.

## FAQs
### Q: What is a keyboard buffer?
A: A keyboard buffer is a reserved section of computer memory that temporarily holds keystrokes until they are read and processed by the system or application.

### Q: Where is the keyboard buffer located?
A: The keyboard buffer resides in computer memory, which is the physical device used to store information for immediate use in a digital electronic device.

### Q: Is a keyboard buffer part of hardware or software?
A: The keyboard buffer is a section of computer memory (a physical device) but functions as a memory-resident area used by hardware and software to store keystrokes prior to processing.

### Q: In which languages does Wikipedia have an article for "Keyboard buffer"?
A: Wikipedia has articles titled "Keyboard buffer" (or equivalents) in at least English, German, Kazakh, and Polish.

## Why It Matters
The keyboard buffer plays a practical role in input handling by temporarily storing user keypresses until the operating system or application processes them. This buffering decouples the physical act of keypresses from the timing of software consumption, enabling smooth user interaction even when a program cannot immediately process input. As a designated area of computer memory, the keyboard buffer aligns with the broader role of memory in digital systems: to hold information for immediate use. Its existence reduces lost input and supports features like input queues, editing of typed text before processing, and predictable handling of rapid user input. Because it is a standardized concept represented in multiple language resources and knowledge bases, understanding keyboard buffers is useful for developers, system designers, and anyone studying how user input is managed in digital devices.

## Notable For
- Being explicitly classified as a subclass of computer memory.  
- Having a concise Wikidata description that defines its core function: holding keystrokes before processing.  
- Presence in multiple language Wikipedias (en, de, kk, pl), indicating cross-language coverage.  
- Mapped identifiers across knowledge bases (freebase_id /m/01x07j and a discontinued Microsoft Academic id 2778746186).  
- A specific legacy wiki identifier on C64-related resources: Tastaturpuffer.

## Body
### Definition and role
- The keyboard buffer is defined as a section of computer memory used to hold keystrokes before they are processed.  
- It serves as a temporary storage area for keyboard input until software or hardware reads and handles the data.

### Classification
- Subclass: computer memory.  
- Parent description: computer memory is a physical device used to store information for immediate use in a digital electronic device.

### Identifiers and links
- Wikipedia title: "Keyboard buffer".  
- Wikipedia languages: de, en, kk, pl.  
- Wikidata description: "section of computer memory used to hold keystrokes before they are processed".  
- freebase_id: /m/01x07j (reference metadata includes publication_date: 2013-10-28).  
- c64_wiki_id: Tastaturpuffer.  
- microsoft_academic_id (discontinued): 2778746186.  
- Sitelink_count for this entity: 4. Parent class "computer memory" sitelink_count: 60.

### Functional context
- The entity exists within the broader context of computer memory usage.  
- It is specifically associated with input handling and the temporary retention of keystrokes.

### Coverage and documentation
- The concept is documented across multiple language Wikipedias and mapped in knowledge bases via several identifiers.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013