eolas/Software_Engineering/Call_stack.md
2022-07-16 10:30:04 +01:00

30 lines
No EOL
892 B
Markdown

---
tags:
- Software_Engineering
- call_stack
---
# The call-stack
A [stack](/Data_Structures/Stacks.md) data structure that holds the information of the functions called within a program that allows transfer of the application control from these functions to the main process after code inside the functions has been executed.
## Example
```js
function greet(who){
console.log("Hello " + who);
}
greet("Harry");
console.log("Bye");
```
### Breakdown
1. Interpreter receives call to `greet()`
2. Goes to the definition of this function (`function greet(who)...`)
3. Executes the `console.log` within this function
4. Returns to the location that called it (`greet("Harry")`)
5. Finds that there is nothing else to do in this function so moves to next function: the `console.log("bye")`
6. Executes
7. Returns to line that called it. Finds nothing else to do. Exits program.