What is a buffer, and what are its applications or uses?

Question

Accepted Answer

A buffer is a zone around a geographic feature that is used for analysis or visualization purposes.

Buffers are commonly used in GIS to analyze proximity, connectivity, and accessibility.
They can be used to identify areas within a certain distance of a feature, such as a buffer zone around a school to determine areas within a 1-mile radius.
Buffers can also be used for visualizing data, such as creating a buffer around a river to show areas that may be affected by flooding.
They are useful for spatial analysis, such as determining suitable locations for new facilities based on proximity to existing features.
Buffers can be created as either a fixed distance or variable distance based on specific criteria.