BufferStrategy

It is worth noting that the terms buffer and surface are meant to be synonymous: an area of contiguous memory, either in video device memory or in system memory.

There are several types of complex buffer strategies; sequential ring buffering, blit buffering, and stereo buffering are common types. Sequential ring buffering (i.e., double or triple buffering) is the most common; an application draws to a single back buffer and then moves the contents to the front (display) in a single step, either by copying the data or moving the video pointer. Moving the video pointer exchanges the buffers so that the first buffer drawn becomes the front buffer, or what is currently displayed on the device; this is called page flipping.

Alternatively, the contents of the back buffer can be copied, or blitted forward in a chain instead of moving the video pointer.

Double buffering:

*********** ***********
* * ------> * *
[To display] <---- * Front B * Show * Back B. * <---- Rendering
* * <------ * *
*********** ***********

Triple buffering:

[To *********** *********** ***********
display] * * --------+---------+------> * *
<---- * Front B * Show * Mid. B. * * Back B. * <---- Rendering
* * <------ * * <----- * *
*********** *********** ***********

Stereo buffering is for hardware that supports rendering separate images for a left and right eye. It is similar to sequential ring buffering, but there are two buffer chains, one for each eye. Both buffer chains flip simultaneously:

Stereo buffering:

*********** ***********
* * ------> * *
[To left eye] <---- * Front B * * Back B. * <---- Rendering
* * <------ * *
*********** ***********
Show
*********** ***********
* * ------> * *
[To right eye] <--- * Front B * * Back B. * <---- Rendering
* * <------ * *
*********** ***********

Here is an example of how buffer strategies can be created and used:

// Check the capabilities of the GraphicsConfiguration
...

// Create our component
Window w = new Window(gc);

// Show our window
w.setVisible(true);

// Create a general double-buffering strategy
w.createBufferStrategy(2);
BufferStrategy strategy = w.getBufferStrategy();

// Render loop
while (!done) {
Graphics g = strategy.getDrawGraphics();
// Draw to graphics
...
strategy.show();
}

// Dispose the window
w.setVisible(false);
w.dispose();