A Level Computer Science: Stacks
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All Computer Science topics are covered, and each module comes complete with:
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Revision Notes
Activities & Quizzes
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a stack in computer science?
A stack is a data structure that follows the Last In, First Out (LIFO) principle. This means that the last item you add to the stack is the first one to be removed. It's like a stack of plates; you add new plates to the top and take plates from the top as well.
What are the main operations in a stack?
The two main operations in a stack are 'push' and 'pop'. The 'push' operation adds an element to the top of the stack, while the 'pop' operation removes the topmost element from the stack. Some stacks also have a 'peek' or 'top' operation, which lets you see the top element without removing it.
How can you implement a stack using arrays?
To implement a stack using arrays, you need two variables: one to hold the array itself and another to keep track of the index of the topmost element in the stack. When you 'push' an element, you store it at the next available index and update the 'top' variable. When you 'pop', you remove the element at the current 'top' index and decrement the 'top' variable.
How is a stack implemented using linked lists?
In a linked list implementation of a stack, each element points to the element below it. When you 'push' an element onto the stack, you update its link to point to the current top element and then update the stack's 'top' pointer to the new element. When you 'pop', you update the 'top' pointer to the element below the current top and remove the old top element.
Why are stacks important in computer science?
Stacks are important because they're used in many areas of computer science and programming, like parsing expressions, managing function calls in recursive programming, and implementing backtracking algorithms. Understanding stacks gives you a foundation for working with more advanced data structures and algorithms.