I've recently delved into using the Scanner class in Java for reading user input, but I've stumbled upon a complex issue that has me quite perplexed. While using multiple input methods, such as nextInt(), nextDouble(), and nextLine(), I've noticed that the program sometimes skips user input or behaves unexpectedly. My primary concern is managing the input buffer correctly; after calling nextInt() or nextDouble(), I've seen that the subsequent call to nextLine() often returns empty strings or skips the expected input altogether.

Could anyone provide a detailed explanation of the underlying mechanics of the Scanner class, especially how it interacts with the input buffer? Additionally, I'd like to know if there are specific strategies or techniques to ensure the proper flow of input when mixing different Scanner methods. Are there best practices to follow that can help prevent these skipping issues? Any code snippets illustrating the correct way to handle such scenarios would be incredibly helpful. Thank you in advance for your assistance!