In which order does a stack operate?

A stack operates on the principle known as Last In First Out (LIFO). This means that the most recently added element to the stack is the first one to be removed. To visualize this, consider a stack of plates: if you add plates one on top of the other, the last plate you placed on top will be the first one you take off when you need a plate.

In a stack, elements are added (pushed) and removed (popped) from the same end, which reinforces the LIFO structure. This behavior is fundamental in various computational processes, such as keeping track of function calls through recursion or managing undo operations in applications.

This order of operation contrasts with First In First Out (FIFO), where the first element added is the first one to be removed, as seen in queues. Random Access suggests direct access to any element without considering the order, while Ordered Access implies sequential access to elements. Neither of these aligns with the core principle of how stacks function.