When should you prefer ByteBuffer and CharBuffer and when should you avoid it?

ByteBuffer and CharBuffer are essential classes in Java's NIO (New Input/Output) package. They are used for handling binary and character data respectively. Understanding when to use these buffers can optimize memory usage and performance in your applications.

When to Prefer ByteBuffer

Use ByteBuffer when dealing with raw binary data, such as reading from or writing to files, network sockets, or any operation that requires efficient handling of bytes. ByteBuffer is ideal for:

• File I/O operations with binary files.
• Network communications that transmit data in byte format.
• Manipulating binary data structures or custom serialization.
• Interoperability with native libraries that require byte arrays.

When to Prefer CharBuffer

CharBuffer is preferable when manipulating text data. Use CharBuffer when:

• Reading or writing character data, such as text files.
• Handling strings and need to perform character-wise operations.
• Processing character encoding conversions.

When to Avoid Them

While ByteBuffer and CharBuffer are powerful tools, they should be avoided when:

• Your application does not heavily rely on NIO but instead leverages traditional I/O operations.
• You're working with simpler data types and structures where overhead of buffers is unnecessary.
• Performance is not critical and you prefer the simplicity of conventional streams.