A stack trace is a report that shows the sequence of function calls leading up to an error or exception in a program. It reveals where execution failed and which parts of the code were involved. Stack traces are essential debugging tools, especially when diagnosing runtime errors in complex systems.
Why it matters
Understanding stack traces helps developers pinpoint the source of bugs quickly. They provide critical insights during debugging, error logging, and production incident response. Clear stack traces also help AI coding tools suggest targeted fixes.
Examples
An exception log showing a chain of function calls in Python or a crash report in Node.js. Lessons like Reading Error Messages teach how to interpret stack traces.