Explain I/O buffering in brief.

I/O buffering is a process used to temporarily store data while it is being transferred between two devices or between a device and an application. Buffering improves the efficiency of the system by allowing data to be handled at the speed of the device or application, rather than at the speed of the data source.

Here are the steps explaining how I/O buffering works:

1. Data Transfer: When data is transferred from one device to another, there can be a mismatch in their data handling speeds. For example, a hard drive may send data faster than a printer can print. This is where I/O buffering comes into play.

2. Storing in Buffer: The buffer, which is a temporary storage area in the system's memory, stores the data coming from the faster device. This allows the slower device to access the data at its own pace, without having to wait for the faster device to slow down.

3. Data Retrieval: The slower device retrieves the data from the buffer when it is ready. This allows the faster device to continue its operations without having to wait for the slower device.

4. Buffer Emptying: Once the data is retrieved, the buffer is emptied to make room for more data. This process continues until all the data has been transferred.

In summary, I/O buffering is a technique used to balance the data handling speeds of different devices or applications, improving the overall efficiency of the system.