CALL STACK Meaning and
Definition
-
The call stack is a fundamental concept in computer science and programming that refers to a data structure used by a program to manage function calls. It is a stack-based representation of a program's execution flow, storing information about the active subroutines and their respective execution contexts.
When a program invokes a function or subroutine, it generates a stack frame for that function and adds it to the top of the call stack. This stack frame contains information such as the program counter, variables, and parameters specific to that function execution. The program then transfers control to the called function, pushing it onto the stack.
As the called function completes its execution, its stack frame is removed from the top of the call stack, and control transfers back to the caller function. This process of pushing and popping stack frames continues for each function call and return, creating a hierarchical structure.
The call stack facilitates proper function execution and ensures that the program can correctly return to the calling context once a function completes. It allows for nested function calls, meaning a function can call another function, which in turn can call another function, and so on.
The call stack plays a crucial role in many aspects of program execution, such as handling recursive function calls, managing local variables and function parameters, and enabling error handling and exception propagation. Understanding and manipulating the call stack is essential for program debugging and analysis.
Common Misspellings for CALL STACK
- xall stack
- vall stack
- fall stack
- dall stack
- czll stack
- csll stack
- cwll stack
- cqll stack
- cakl stack
- capl stack
- caol stack
- calk stack
- calp stack
- calo stack
- call atack
- call ztack
- call xtack
- call dtack
- call etack
- call wtack
Etymology of CALL STACK
The term "call stack" originated from computer science and programming. The word "call" refers to the process of invoking a subroutine or a function in a program. A stack is a data structure that follows the LIFO (Last In, First Out) principle, meaning the last item pushed into the stack will be the first item popped out.
In the context of programming, a call stack is a stack data structure that keeps track of all the active function calls in a program. When a function is called, its information (parameters, local variables) and the instruction pointer (a memory address indicating the next instruction) are pushed onto the call stack. As the function completes, it is popped off the stack, allowing the program to return to the previous point of execution.
The word "stack" here refers to the LIFO structure used to manage and track these function calls, while "call" refers to the act of invoking a function.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
