🎁 New User? Get 20% off your first purchase with code NEWUSER20 · ⚡ Instant download · 🔒 Secure checkout Register Now →
Menu

Categories

Programming Concepts Beginner

What is Stack?

A data structure that follows Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) ordering, where elements are added and removed from the same end (top).

Stacks support push (add to top) and pop (remove from top) operations, both in O(1). The call stack tracks function calls and local variables. Stacks are used in undo operations, expression evaluation, backtracking algorithms, and depth-first search.

The function call stack is fundamental to how programs execute — each function call pushes a stack frame, and returning pops it. Stack overflow occurs when the stack exceeds its memory limit, typically from infinite recursion.

Related Terms

Immutable Object
An object whose state cannot be modified after creation, providing thread safety and predictable behavior in concurrent systems.
Technical Debt
The implied cost of additional rework caused by choosing a quick solution now instead of a better approach that would take longer.
Data Structure
A way of organizing and storing data in a computer so it can be accessed and modified efficiently.
Clean Code
Code that is easy to read, understand, and maintain — following consistent conventions, meaningful naming, and single-responsibility functions.
DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself)
A software development principle that aims to reduce code duplication by abstracting common patterns into reusable components.
Race Condition
A bug that occurs when the behavior of software depends on the timing or order of uncontrolled events like thread scheduling.
 View All Programming Concepts Terms →