Both Buffers and Streams are used to handle binary data (data that isn't just plain text, like images, video, or zip files). The difference lies in how much of that data they hold at once and how they process it. Buffers are useful when you have all the data upfront and want to process it, while streams are useful when dealing with large amounts of data or data coming from an external source, allowing you to start processing before all the data has arrived.
A Buffer is a small, fixed-size chunk of memory allocated outside the V8 heap. Think of it as a bucket that holds a specific amount of data.
A Stream is a sequence of data that is moved from one place to another over time. Think of it as a garden hose or a conveyor belt.