What is a stack overflow?

What is a stack overflow?

• A. An error that occurs when too much memory is used on the heap
• B. An error that occurs when there is too much memory used on the call stack
• C. A type of compilation error in C
• D. An indication of insufficient memory in a program

Answer: (B)

A stack overflow is defined as an error that occurs when there is too much memory used on the call stack. The call stack is a special region of memory that stores information about the active subroutines (functions) of a computer program. When a function is called, its local variables and return address are pushed onto the stack. If a program uses too much stack space—often due to deep or infinite recursion—this can exceed the allocated stack size, leading to a stack overflow. In practical terms, stack overflow often manifests as a runtime error or crash, highlighting that the program has attempted to use more stack memory than is available, resulting in corruption or overwriting of adjacent memory. Unlike heap memory, which can grow dynamically, the stack has a fixed size determined at the start of the program's execution. Understanding stack overflow is crucial for writing efficient programs, especially in languages like C where the programmer must manage memory manually. By knowing how the stack operates, developers can anticipate potential issues with recursion or large local variables that could lead to a stack overflow.

A stack overflow is defined as an error that occurs when there is too much memory used on the call stack. The call stack is a special region of memory that stores information about the active subroutines (functions) of a computer program. When a function is called, its local variables and return address are pushed onto the stack. If a program uses too much stack space—often due to deep or infinite recursion—this can exceed the allocated stack size, leading to a stack overflow.

In practical terms, stack overflow often manifests as a runtime error or crash, highlighting that the program has attempted to use more stack memory than is available, resulting in corruption or overwriting of adjacent memory. Unlike heap memory, which can grow dynamically, the stack has a fixed size determined at the start of the program's execution.

Understanding stack overflow is crucial for writing efficient programs, especially in languages like C where the programmer must manage memory manually. By knowing how the stack operates, developers can anticipate potential issues with recursion or large local variables that could lead to a stack overflow.