Stack Step By Step

public static void main(String[] args) 
{
  int i=1; 

  i = silly(i);
} 

int silly(int locali)
{
  locali = 3;
  return locali;
}

• The stack isn’t really empty, other applications are running but as far as this application is concerned there is only an empty stack

public static void main(String[] args) 
{
  int i=1; 

  i = silly(i);
} 

int silly(int locali)
{
  locali = 3;
  return locali;
}

• main() frame added to stack

public static void main(String[] args) 
{
  int i=1; 

  i = silly(i);
} 

int silly(int locali)
{
  locali = 3;
  return locali;
}

• i variable created in the main() frame

public static void main(String[] args) 
{
  int i=1; 

  i = silly(i);
} 

int silly(int locali)
{
  locali = 3;
  return locali;
}

• (Two steps) silly() frame added to stack, locali variable created with a value passed in from main()

public static void main(String[] args) 
{
  int i=1; 

  i = silly(i);
} 

int silly(int locali)
{
  locali = 3;
  return locali;
}

• locali value in silly() changed to 3

public static void main(String[] args) 
{
  int i=1; 

  i = silly(i);
} 

int silly(int locali)
{
  locali = 3;
  return locali;
}

• locali value in silly() returned to main() and stored in i

public static void main(String[] args) 
{
  int i=1; 

  i = silly(i);
}

int silly(int locali)
{
  locali = 3;
  return locali;
}

• silly() frame deleted as method exits

public static void main(String[] args) 
{
  int i=1; 

  i = silly(i);
} 

int silly(int locali)
{
  locali = 3;
  return locali;
}

• main() frame deleted as method exits