.
Stack Representation
The following diagram depicts a stack and its operations −
A stack can be implemented by means of Array, Structure, Pointer, and Linked List. Stack can
either be a fixed size one or it may have a sense of dynamic resizing. Here, we are going to
implement stack using arrays, which makes it a fixed size stack implementation.
Basic Operations
Stack operations may involve initializing the stack, using it and then de-initializing it. Apart from
these basic stuffs, a stack is used for the following two primary operations −
push() − Pushing (storing) an element on the stack.
pop() − Removing (accessing) an element from the stack.
When data is PUSHed onto stack.
To use a stack efficiently, we need to check the status of stack as well. For the same purpose, the
following functionality is added to stacks −
peek() − get the top data element of the stack, without removing it.
isFull() − check if stack is full.
isEmpty() − check if stack is empty.
At all times, we maintain a pointer to the last PUSHed data on the stack. As this pointer always
represents the top of the stack, hence named top. The top pointer provides top value of the stack
without actually removing it.
First we should learn about procedures to support stack functions −
peek()
Algorithm of peek() function −
begin procedure peek
return stack[top]
end procedure
Implementation of peek() function in C programming language −
Example
int peek() {
return stack[top];
}
isfull()
Algorithm of isfull() function −
begin procedure isfull
if top equals to MAXSIZE
return true
else
return false
endif
end procedure
Implementation of isfull() function in C programming language −
Example
bool isfull() {
if(top == MAXSIZE)
return true;
else
return false;
}
isempty()
Algorithm of isempty() function −
begin procedure isempty
if top less than 1
return true
else
return false
endif
end procedure
Implementation of isempty() function in C programming language is slightly different. We
initialize top at -1, as the index in array starts from 0. So we check if the top is below zero or -1
to determine if the stack is empty. Here's the code −
Example
bool isempty() {
if(top == -1)
return true;
else
return false;
}
Push Operation
The process of putting a new data element onto stack is known as a Push Operation. Push
operation involves a series of steps −
Step 1 − Checks if the stack is full.
Step 2 − If the stack is full, produces an error and exit.
Step 3 − If the stack is not full, increments top to point next empty space.
Step 4 − Adds data element to the stack location, where top is pointing.
Step 5 − Returns success.
If the linked list is used to implement the stack, then in step 3, we need to allocate space
dynamically.
Algorithm for PUSH Operation
A simple algorithm for Push operation can be derived as follows −
begin procedure push: stack, data
if stack is full
return null
endif
top ← top + 1
stack[top] ← data
end procedure
Implementation of this algorithm in C, is very easy. See the following code −
Example
void push(int data) {
if(!isFull()) {
top = top + 1;
stack[top] = data;
} else {
printf("Could not insert data, Stack is full.\n");
}
}
Pop Operation
Accessing the content while removing it from the stack, is known as a Pop Operation. In an array
implementation of pop() operation, the data element is not actually removed, instead top is
decremented to a lower position in the stack to point to the next value. But in linked-list
implementation, pop() actually removes data element and deallocates memory space.
A Pop operation may involve the following steps −
Step 1 − Checks if the stack is empty.
Step 2 − If the stack is empty, produces an error and exit.
Step 3 − If the stack is not empty, accesses the data element at which top is pointing.
Step 4 − Decreases the value of top by 1.
Step 5 − Returns success.
Algorithm for Pop Operation
A simple algorithm for Pop operation can be derived as follows −
begin procedure pop: stack
if stack is empty
return null
endif
data ← stack[top]
top ← top - 1
return data
end procedure
Implementation of this algorithm in C, is as follows −
Example
int pop(int data) {
if(!isempty()) {
data = stack[top];
top = top - 1;
return data;
} else {
printf("Could not retrieve data, Stack is empty.\n");
}
}
Data Structure - Expression Parsing
The way to write arithmetic expression is known as a notation. An arithmetic expression can be
written in three different but equivalent notations, i.e., without changing the essence or output of
an expression. These notations are −
Infix Notation
Prefix (Polish) Notation
Postfix (Reverse-Polish) Notation
These notations are named as how they use operator in expression. We shall learn the same here
in this chapter.
Infix Notation
We write expression in infix notation, e.g. a - b + c, where operators are used in-between
operands. It is easy for us humans to read, write, and speak in infix notation but the same does
not go well with computing devices. An algorithm to process infix notation could be difficult and
costly in terms of time and space consumption.
Prefix Notation
In this notation, operator is prefixed to operands, i.e. operator is written ahead of operands. For
example, +ab. This is equivalent to its infix notation a + b. Prefix notation is also known as
Polish Notation.
Postfix Notation
This notation style is known as Reversed Polish Notation. In this notation style, the operator is
postfixed to the operands i.e., the operator is written after the operands. For example, ab+. This
is equivalent to its infix notation a + b.
The following table briefly tries to show the difference in all three notations –
Sr.No. Infix Notation Prefix Notation Postfix Notation
1 a+b +ab ab+
2 (a + b) ∗ c ∗+abc ab+c∗
3 a ∗ (b + c) ∗a+bc abc+∗
4 a/b+c/d +/ab/cd ab/cd/+
5 (a + b) ∗ (c + d) ∗+ab+cd ab+cd+∗
6 ((a + b) ∗ c) - d -∗+abcd ab+c∗d-
Parsing Expressions
As we have discussed, it is not a very efficient way to design an algorithm or program to parse
infix notations. Instead, these infix notations are first converted into either postfix or prefix
notations and then computed.
To parse any arithmetic expression, we need to take care of operator precedence and
associativity also.
Precedence
When an operand is in between two different operators, which operator will take the operand
first, is decided by the precedence of an operator over others. For example −
As multiplication operation has precedence over addition, b * c will be evaluated first. A table of
operator precedence is provided later.
Associativity
Associativity describes the rule where operators with the same precedence appear in an
expression. For example, in expression a + b − c, both + and – have the same precedence, then
which part of the expression will be evaluated first, is determined by associativity of those
operators. Here, both + and − are left associative, so the expression will be evaluated as (a + b) −
c.
Precedence and associativity determines the order of evaluation of an expression. Following is an
operator precedence and associativity table (highest to lowest) –
Sr.No. Operator Precedence Associativity
1 Exponentiation ^ Highest Right Associative
Multiplication ( ∗ )
2 Second Highest Left Associative
& Division ( / )
Addition ( + ) &
3 Lowest Left Associative
Subtraction ( − )
The above table shows the default behavior of operators. At any point of time in expression
evaluation, the order can be altered by using parenthesis. For example −
In a + b*c, the expression part b*c will be evaluated first, with multiplication as precedence over
addition. We here use parenthesis for a + b to be evaluated first, like (a + b)*c.
Postfix Evaluation Algorithm
We shall now look at the algorithm on how to evaluate postfix notation −
Step 1 − scan the expression from left to right
Step 2 − if it is an operand push it to stack
Step 3 − if it is an operator pull operand from stack and perform operation
Step 4 − store the output of step 3, back to stack
Step 5 − scan the expression until all operands are consumed
Step 6 − pop the stack and perform operation
