Buffering is the process of temporarily storing data in a buffer, or a holding area, in order to process it at a later time. In the context of streaming media, buffering refers to the temporary storage of data from an audio or video stream in order to ensure that it can be played smoothly, without interruptions or stuttering. Buffering is necessary because the speed at which data can be transferred over the internet can vary, and if the rate at which data is being received is slower than the rate at which it is being played, the video or audio stream will stop and wait for enough data to be buffered before continuing. This can result in pauses or delays in the playback of the stream, which is commonly referred to as "buffering."