Stack vs. Array: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on February 25, 2024
A Stack is a collection of elements following Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) order, while an Array is a collection of items stored at contiguous memory locations.
Key Differences
A Stack is a dynamic data structure following the LIFO order, where the last element added is the first one to be removed. An Array, in contrast, is a static data structure that stores elements in contiguous memory locations, allowing random access.
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In a Stack, operations like push (add an element) and pop (remove an element) occur at one end, called the top of the stack. Arrays allow insertion and deletion of elements at any index, offering more flexibility in accessing elements.
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Stacks are often used for managing function calls, undo mechanisms in software, and for balancing symbols. Arrays are fundamental in programming, used for storing data elements that are similar in type.
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The size of a Stack can be flexible and grow as needed, although implementations with a fixed size also exist. Arrays, however, have a fixed size defined at the time of declaration, which limits their capacity.
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While Stacks are ideal for situations where data needs to be stored and retrieved in a reverse order, Arrays are more suitable for scenarios requiring frequent access to elements at different positions.
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Comparison Chart
Memory Allocation
Dynamic, grows as needed
Static, contiguous memory allocation
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Operation Complexity
O(1) for push/pop
O(1) for accessing, variable for insert/delete
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Implementation
Can be implemented using arrays/lists
Directly supported in most languages
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Stack and Array Definitions
Stack
An orderly pile, especially one arranged in layers
A stack of newspapers.
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Array
Arrays allow random access of elements using indices.
Accessing the fifth element in an array is done using its index.
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Stack
A large, usually conical pile of straw or fodder arranged for outdoor storage.
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Array
Arrays have a fixed size and store similar types of elements.
An array of integers can store multiple integer values.
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Stack
(Computers) A section of memory and its associated registers used for temporary storage of information in which the item most recently stored is the first to be retrieved.
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Array
Arrays are fundamental in various programming languages.
Arrays in Python can be created using the array module.
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Stack
A group of three rifles supporting each other, butt downward and forming a cone.
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Array
Arrays are used for efficient data storage and retrieval.
Arrays form the basis for many data structures like heaps.
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Array
To set out for display or use; place in an orderly arrangement
Arrayed the whole regiment on the parade ground.
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Array
An impressively large number, as of persons or objects
An array of heavily armed troops.
An array of spare parts.
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Array
A rectangular arrangement of quantities in rows and columns, as in a matrix.
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Stack
An English measure of coal or cut wood, equal to 108 cubic feet (3.06 cubic meters).
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Array
An arrangement of usually identical devices, often sensors, that function as a unit
An array of solar panels.
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Array
(Computers) A group of memory elements accessed by one or more indices.
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Stack
(Games) To prearrange the order of (a deck of cards) so as to increase the chance of winning.
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Array
7, Laws N21|url=http://www.joe-offer.com/folkinfo/songs/129.html|passage=Sovay, Sovay all on a day, She dressed herself in man's array, With a sword and a pistol all by her side, To meet her true love to meet her true love away did ride.}}
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Stack
To prearrange or fix unfairly so as to favor a particular outcome
Tried to stack the jury.
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Stack
To direct (aircraft) to circle at different altitudes while waiting to land.
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Array
Order; a regular and imposing arrangement; disposition in regular lines; hence, order of battle.
Drawn up in battle array
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Stack
A large pile of hay, grain, straw, or the like, larger at the bottom than the top, sometimes covered with thatch.
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Stack
A pile of similar objects, each directly on top of the last.
Please bring me a chair from that stack in the corner.
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Array
(programming) Any of various data structures designed to hold multiple elements of the same type; especially, a data structure that holds these elements in adjacent memory locations so that they may be retrieved using numeric indices.
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Array
(legal) A ranking or setting forth in order, by the proper officer, of a jury as impanelled in a cause; the panel itself; or the whole body of jurors summoned to attend the court.
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Array
To clothe and ornament; to adorn or attire.
He was arrayed in his finest robes and jewels.
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Stack
(programming) A linear data structure in which items inserted are removed in reverse order (the last item inserted is the first one to be removed).
History stack
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Stack
A stack data structure stored in main memory that is manipulated during machine language procedure call related instructions.
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Array
(legal) To set in order, as a jury, for the trial of a cause; that is, to call them one at a time.
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Stack
An implementation of a protocol suite (set of protocols forming a layered architecture).
A TCP/IP stack is a library or set of libraries or of OS drivers that take care of networking.
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Array
Order; a regular and imposing arrangement; disposition in regular lines; hence, order of battle; as, drawn up in battle array.
Wedged together in the closest array.
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Stack
A combination of interdependent, yet individually replaceable, software components or technologies used together on a system.
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Array
The whole body of persons thus placed in order; an orderly collection; hence, a body of soldiers.
A gallant array of nobles and cavaliers.
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Stack
(math) A generalization of schemes in algebraic geometry and of sheaves.
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Array
An imposing series of things.
Their long array of sapphire and of gold.
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Stack
(geology) A coastal landform, consisting of a large vertical column of rock in the sea.
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Array
Dress; garments disposed in order upon the person; rich or beautiful apparel.
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Stack
(library) Compactly spaced bookshelves used to house large collections of books.
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Array
A ranking or setting forth in order, by the proper officer, of a jury as impaneled in a cause.
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Stack
(figuratively) A large amount of an object.
They paid him a stack of money to keep quiet.
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Array
To place or dispose in order, as troops for battle; to marshal.
By torch and trumpet fast arrayed,Each horseman drew his battle blade.
These doubts will be arrayed before their minds.
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Array
To deck or dress; to adorn with dress; to cloth to envelop; - applied esp. to dress of a splendid kind.
Pharaoh . . . arrayed him in vestures of fine linen.
In gelid caves with horrid gloom arrayed.
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Array
To set in order, as a jury, for the trial of a cause; that is, to call them man by man.
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Array
An impressive display;
It was a bewildering array of books
His tools were in an orderly array on the basement wall
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Array
An arrangement of aerials spaced to give desired directional characteristics
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Stack
(bodybuilding) A blend of various dietary supplements or anabolic steroids with supposed synergistic benefits.
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Stack
(aviation) A holding pattern, with aircraft circling one above the other as they wait to land.
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Stack
(video games) The quantity of a given item which fills up an inventory slot or bag.
I've got 107 Golden Branches, but the stack size is 20 so they're taking up 6 spaces in my inventory.
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Array
An Array is a collection of items stored at contiguous memory locations.
Arrays are used to store multiple values in a single variable.
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Stack
(transitive) To arrange in a stack, or to add to an existing stack.
Please stack those chairs in the corner.
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Stack
To arrange the cards in a deck in a particular manner.
This is the third hand in a row where you've drawn four of a kind. Someone is stacking the deck!
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Stack
To take all the money another player currently has on the table.
I won Jill's last $100 this hand; I stacked her!
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Stack
(transitive) To deliberately distort the composition of (an assembly, committee, etc.).
The Government was accused of stacking the parliamentary committee.
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Stack
To crash; to fall.
Jim couldn′t make it today as he stacked his car on the weekend.
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Stack
(gaming) To operate cumulatively.
A magical widget will double your mojo. And yes, they do stack: if you manage to get two magical widgets, your mojo will be quadrupled. With three, it will be octupled, and so forth.
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Stack
To collect precious metal in the form of various small objects such as coins and bars.
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Stack
A large and to some degree orderly pile of hay, grain, straw, or the like, usually of a nearly conical form, but sometimes rectangular or oblong, contracted at the top to a point or ridge, and sometimes covered with thatch.
But corn was housed, and beans were in the stack.
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Stack
An orderly pile of any type of object, indefinite in quantity; - used especially of piles of wood. A stack is usually more orderly than a pile
Against every pillar was a stack of billets above a man's height.
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Stack
A section of memory in a computer used for temporary storage of data, in which the last datum stored is the first retrieved.
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Stack
The section of a library containing shelves which hold books less frequently requested.
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Stack
To lay in a conical or other pile; to make into a large pile; as, to stack hay, cornstalks, or grain; to stack or place wood.
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Stack
To place in a vertical arrangement so that each item in a pile is resting on top of another item in the pile, except for the bottom item; as, to stack the papers neatly on the desk; to stack the bricks.
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Stack
To select or arrange dishonestly so as to achieve an unfair advantage; as, to stack a deck of cards; to stack a jury with persons prejudiced against the defendant.
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Stack
(often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent;
A batch of letters
A deal of trouble
A lot of money
He made a mint on the stock market
It must have cost plenty
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Stack
A list in which the next item to be removed is the item most recently stored (LIFO)
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Stack
A large tall chimney through which combustion gases and smoke can be evacuated
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Stack
A storage device that handles data so that the next item to be retrieved is the item most recently stored (LIFO)
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Stack
Arrange in stacks;
Heap firewood around the fireplace
Stack your books up on the shelves
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Stack
Arrange the order of so as to increase one's winning chances;
Stack the deck of cards
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Stack
A Stack is a linear data structure following LIFO.
The call stack stores function calls in a LIFO manner.
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Stack
Stacks allow only push and pop operations at one end.
In a stack, every pop operation retrieves the most recently pushed item.
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Stack
A Stack dynamically manages data in a sequential order.
Stacks are ideal for managing parentheses balancing in expressions.
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Stack
Stack size can be either dynamic or fixed.
In programming, a stack overflow occurs when the stack exceeds its limit.
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Stack
Stacks are commonly used in algorithmic implementations.
Stacks are essential in depth-first search algorithms.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is an Array?
An Array is a static, contiguous collection of similar elements.
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Can Arrays be used to implement Stacks?
Yes, Stacks can be implemented using Arrays.
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What operations are common in a Stack?
Common Stack operations are push and pop.
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How does a Stack differ from an Array in memory allocation?
A Stack can grow dynamically, whereas an Array has fixed memory allocation.
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How are elements accessed in an Array?
Array elements are accessed using indices.
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What type of elements can an Array hold?
Arrays typically hold elements of the same data type.
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Are Stacks dynamic in size?
Stacks can be dynamic, allowing them to grow as needed.
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Is the size of an Array changeable?
No, Arrays have a fixed size upon declaration.
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What are common uses of Stacks?
Stacks are used in function calls, expression evaluation, and algorithms.
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What are common uses of Arrays?
Arrays are used for data storage, lookup tables, and as buffers.
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Are Stacks built into programming languages?
Some languages have built-in Stack implementations, others require manual implementation.
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Can Stacks perform random access?
No, Stacks only allow access to the top element.
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Can Stacks overflow?
Yes, especially fixed-size Stacks can overflow if too many elements are added.
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Are Arrays suitable for stack-like operations?
While Arrays can implement stack operations, they are more versatile and not restricted to LIFO.
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How is a Stack's LIFO nature useful?
LIFO is useful for reversing order, like in undo operations.
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How is memory efficiency in Arrays?
Arrays are memory efficient due to contiguous storage.
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How are Arrays initialized?
Arrays are initialized with a fixed size and optional initial values.
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What data structure does a Stack represent?
A Stack represents a linear data structure.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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