What is the maximum number of elements a Stack can hold?

Java MCQ: What is the maximum number of elements a Stack can hold?

Answer:

Explanation:

The maximum number of elements a stack can hold depends on the memory available in the system. In theory, a stack could hold an infinite number of elements, but in practice, the size of the stack is limited by the amount of memory allocated to it by the system. This limitation is influenced by the type of implementation (e.g., array-based or linked list-based) and the overall memory constraints of the environment in which the program is running.

For example, in an array-based stack, the size of the array limits the number of elements. If more elements are pushed onto the stack than the array can hold, the stack must be resized, which can impact performance. In a linked list-based stack, each element (or node) is dynamically allocated memory, so the stack can grow as long as there is available memory.

Consider the following example of an array-based stack:

class Stack {
    private int[] arr;
    private int top;
    private int maxSize;

    public Stack(int size) {
        maxSize = size;
        arr = new int[maxSize];
        top = -1;
    }

    public void push(int value) {
        if (top == maxSize - 1) {
            System.out.println("Stack overflow");
        } else {
            arr[++top] = value;
        }
    }
}

In this example, the maximum size of the stack is determined by the maxSize parameter. If you try to push more elements than the stack can hold, a “stack overflow” condition occurs. However, if the stack were implemented using a linked list, it could continue growing until the system’s memory is exhausted.

Thus, the practical limit on the size of a stack is determined by the available memory, and careful management of this resource is essential for preventing stack overflow or out-of-memory errors in applications.

Reference links:

https://www.javaguides.net/p/java-stack-tutorial.html