Which of the following best describes what a "stack" is?

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Question restatement: Which of the following best describes what a "stack" is?

Option 1: A FILO linear data structure used for storing an array of items
- This is the accurate description. A stack is a linear data structure that follows the FILO/Last-In-First-Out principle, where the last element pushed onto the stack is the first one to be popped off. The term FILO is another common acronym used to capture this behavior.

Option 2: A list of items "stacked" on eachother in a dictionary using FIFO principles.
- This is incorrect. Stacks are not defined as items stored in a dictionary, and the FIFO (First-In-First-Out) principle describes queues, not stacks. The combination of dictionary storage and FIFO mischaracterizes how stacks manage order.

Option 3: A group of sorted items in a list
- This is not specific to stacks. Sorting refers to order based on a comparator, but a stack’s defining trait is its access order (LIFO/FILO), not item sorting within the structure.

Option 4: A function dedicated to pushing elements
- Pushing elements onto a stack is an operation (a method), not a description of what a stack is. A stack is the data structure itself, not merely one of its operations.

Option 5: A class error
- This is incorrect. A stack is a legitimate data structure used in many programming contexts; it is not inherently an error or exception.

Option 6: An nonlinear data structure used for storing items
- This is false. Stacks are linear data structures because they store elements in a single, ordered sequence where each element (except the top) has a unique predecessor and successor.

IS 4485-001 Fall 2025 Final Exam

Which of the following best describes what a "stack" is?

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