An area that temporarily holds data and instructions needed to make the processing of instructions more fluid is called __ a. thrashing b. Paging c. Buffer d. Virtual Memory

## Step 1<br />The problem is asking for the term that describes an area that temporarily holds data and instructions to make the processing of instructions more fluid. This is a concept in computer science, specifically in the area of memory management.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />Let's analyze each option:<br /><br />a. Thrashing: This term refers to a situation where the computer is spending more time swapping data in and out of the memory rather than executing instructions. This is not the correct answer because it does not describe an area that temporarily holds data and instructions.<br /><br />b. Paging: This is a method of managing memory where the operating system retrieves data from non-volatile storage in same-size blocks called pages. This is not the correct answer because it does not describe an area that temporarily holds data and instructions.<br /><br />c. Buffer: A buffer is a temporary storage area that holds data while it is being moved from one place to another. This is the correct answer because it fits the description given in the problem.<br /><br />d. Virtual Memory: This is a memory management technique that provides an "illusion" to users of having a large (virtual) memory space, while in reality, it is a portion of the hard disk space. This is not the correct answer because it does not describe an area that temporarily holds data and instructions.