Who should call ByteBuffer.flip()

Question

I'm very well aware of when a ByteBuffer needs to be flipped. My question is pointed towards setting up an implicit contract between the put -er and the get -er to reduce bugs.

Does the putter flip before giving the buffer to the getter? Or does the getter flip upon receiving the buffer?

I lean towards the putter flipping the buffer because it makes sense that the getter always receives a buffer that is ready to get .

Is there any precedent? What do you do?

Answer 1

The best practice as far as I can see is to leave the buffer in readable/puttable state, and to only flip() immediately before a write or get, and compact() immediately afterwards. The writer/getter should do that itself, and not rely on anyone else doing it for him. Note that compact() should be called in a finally block.