Apparatuses and methods for performing buffer operations in memory are provided. An example apparatus can include an array of memory cells, a page buffer, and a controller. The page buffer can be configured to store a number of pages of data in respective caches of the page buffer. The controller can be configured to program the number of pages of data to a first group of cells in the array. The programming operation can include programming the first group of cells to target states encoded with respective data patterns. The programming operation can include incrementally releasing a first of the respective caches of the page buffer responsive to completing programming of cells programmed to a particular first one of the target states.