[rektide]

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/1.4.2/docs/api/java/nio/ByteBu... is solid enough reading for the interested in encoding/decoding. It compares Direct v.s. non-direct buffers. The doc does remain somewhat circumspect about whether any work is done converting from raw memory to primitive values, for example in the use of getLong or putLong to read or write.