Class BufferStrategy

java.lang.Object
java.awt.image.BufferStrategy
Direct Known Subclasses:
Component.BltBufferStrategy, Component.FlipBufferStrategy
public abstract class BufferStrategy extends Object
The BufferStrategy class represents the mechanism with which to organize complex memory on a particular Canvas or Window. Hardware and software limitations determine whether and how a particular buffer strategy can be implemented. These limitations are detectable through the capabilities of the GraphicsConfiguration used when creating the Canvas or Window.

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, including sequential ring buffering and blit buffering. 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
         *         * <------ *         * <----- *         *
         ***********         ***********        ***********

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();

// Main loop
while (!done) {
    // Prepare for rendering the next frame
    // ...

    // Render single frame
    do {
        // The following loop ensures that the contents of the drawing buffer
        // are consistent in case the underlying surface was recreated
        do {
            // Get a new graphics context every time through the loop
            // to make sure the strategy is validated
            Graphics graphics = strategy.getDrawGraphics();

            // Render to graphics
            // ...

            // Dispose the graphics
            graphics.dispose();

            // Repeat the rendering if the drawing buffer contents
            // were restored
        } while (strategy.contentsRestored());

        // Display the buffer
        strategy.show();

        // Repeat the rendering if the drawing buffer was lost
    } while (strategy.contentsLost());
}

// Dispose the window
w.setVisible(false);
w.dispose();
Since:
1.4
See Also:

  • Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Modifier
    Constructor
    Description
    protected
    BufferStrategy()
    Constructor for subclasses to call.

  • Method Summary

    Modifier and Type
    Method
    Description
    abstract boolean
    contentsLost()
    Returns whether the drawing buffer was lost since the last call to getDrawGraphics.
    abstract boolean
    contentsRestored()
    Returns whether the drawing buffer was recently restored from a lost state and reinitialized to the default background color (white).
    void
    dispose()
    Releases system resources currently consumed by this BufferStrategy and removes it from the associated Component.
    abstract BufferCapabilities
    getCapabilities()
    Returns the BufferCapabilities for this BufferStrategy.
    abstract Graphics
    getDrawGraphics()
    Creates a graphics context for the drawing buffer.
    abstract void
    show()
    Makes the next available buffer visible by either copying the memory (blitting) or changing the display pointer (flipping).

    Methods declared in class Object

    clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait
    Modifier and Type
    Method
    Description
    protected Object
    clone()
    Answers a new instance of the same class as the receiver, whose slots have been filled in with the values in the slots of the receiver.
    boolean
    equals(Object o)
    Compares the argument to the receiver, and answers true if they represent the same object using a class specific comparison.
    protected void
    finalize()
    Deprecated, for removal: This API element is subject to removal in a future version.
    May cause performance issues, deadlocks and hangs.
    final Class<? extends Object>
    getClass()
    Answers the unique instance of java.lang.Class which represents the class of the receiver.
    int
    hashCode()
    Answers an integer hash code for the receiver.
    final void
    notify()
    Causes one thread which is waiting on the receiver to be made ready to run.
    final void
    notifyAll()
    Causes all threads which are waiting on the receiver to be made ready to run.
    String
    toString()
    Answers a string containing a concise, human-readable description of the receiver.
    final void
    wait()
    Causes the thread which sent this message to be made not ready to run pending some change in the receiver (as indicated by notify or notifyAll).
    final void
    wait(long time)
    Causes the thread which sent this message to be made not ready to run either pending some change in the receiver (as indicated by notify or notifyAll) or the expiration of the timeout.
    final void
    wait(long time, int frac)
    Causes the thread which sent this message to be made not ready to run either pending some change in the receiver (as indicated by notify or notifyAll) or the expiration of the timeout.

  • Constructor Details

    • BufferStrategy

      protected BufferStrategy()
      Constructor for subclasses to call.

  • Method Details

    • getCapabilities

      public abstract BufferCapabilities getCapabilities()
      Returns the BufferCapabilities for this BufferStrategy.
      Returns:
      the buffering capabilities of this strategy

    • getDrawGraphics

      public abstract Graphics getDrawGraphics()
      Creates a graphics context for the drawing buffer. This method may not be synchronized for performance reasons; use of this method by multiple threads should be handled at the application level. Disposal of the graphics object obtained must be handled by the application.
      Returns:
      a graphics context for the drawing buffer

    • contentsLost

      public abstract boolean contentsLost()
      Returns whether the drawing buffer was lost since the last call to getDrawGraphics. Since the buffers in a buffer strategy are usually type VolatileImage, they may become lost. For a discussion on lost buffers, see VolatileImage.
      Returns:
      Whether or not the drawing buffer was lost since the last call to getDrawGraphics.
      See Also:

    • contentsRestored

      public abstract boolean contentsRestored()
      Returns whether the drawing buffer was recently restored from a lost state and reinitialized to the default background color (white). Since the buffers in a buffer strategy are usually type VolatileImage, they may become lost. If a surface has been recently restored from a lost state since the last call to getDrawGraphics, it may require repainting. For a discussion on lost buffers, see VolatileImage.
      Returns:
      Whether or not the drawing buffer was restored since the last call to getDrawGraphics.
      See Also:

    • show

      public abstract void show()
      Makes the next available buffer visible by either copying the memory (blitting) or changing the display pointer (flipping).

    • dispose

      public void dispose()
      Releases system resources currently consumed by this BufferStrategy and removes it from the associated Component. After invoking this method, getBufferStrategy will return null. Trying to use a BufferStrategy after it has been disposed will result in undefined behavior.
      Since:
      1.6
      See Also: