Self-Service Linux®: Mastering the Art of Problem Determination

Chapter 5. The Stack

Introduction

The stack is one of the most important and fundamental parts of a computer’s architecture. It is something that many computer users may have heard of but likely don’t know much about what it is used for or how it works. Many software problems can involve the stack, so it is important to have a working knowledge to troubleshoot effectively. Let’s start out by defining the term stack. The definition taken directly from Dictionary.com is

stack(stak)

n.

1. A large, usually conical pile of straw or fodder arranged for outdoor storage.

2. An orderly pile, especially one arranged in layers. See Synonyms at heap.

3. Computer Science. A section of memory and its associated registers used for temporary storage of information in which ...