Stack

A memory region containing the local variables and parameters of currently executing functions.

Related concepts:  CallReturnFunctionMethod

Closest Wikipedia entry:  Call stack — In computer science, a call stack is a stack data structure that stores information about the active subroutines of a computer program. This type of stack is also known as an execution stack, program stack, control stack, run-time stack, or machine stack, and is often shortened to simply the "stack". Although maintenance of the call stack is important for the proper functioning of most software, the details are normally hidden and automatic in high-level programming languages.

Misconceptions about Stack

11 documented Misconceptions

CallWithoutFrame

A method invocation does not necessarily allocate a stack frame

CallerFrameContainsCalleeFormal

Stack frame of caller includes variables for callee's formal parameters

FrameIsClassInstance

A stack frame is the same as an instance of a class

NoLocalVariables

There are no local variables

ObjectLabeledWithConstructorSignature

In stack and heap diagrams, an object on the heap is labeled like a stack frame of a constructor call

RecursiveActivationsShareFrame

Recursive calls of a method share a stack frame

ReferenceIntoStack

References can point into the stack

ReturnUnwindsMultipleFrames

A return statement can unwind multiple call stack frames

StackTraceIsCallHistory

A stack trace is the sequence of previously called methods

StaticFrameInGlobals

Stack frame of static method calls lives in the global memory area