Gray flimmer(ing) - The constant flashing of a Java applet, usually in animation, with the refresh() method. This can usually be avoided by implementation of the update() method or by using the technique of double buffering. The singular term 'gray flimmer' refers to a single flash of an image in a Java applet. When gray flimmering occurs, the image flashes in such a way that it alternates rapidly between the actual image and a blank gray frame. This is where the term 'gray flimmering' originates.