Stacks using Arrays and Classes

In CBSE Class XII Computer Science using C++ board exams a question might come using stacks of one of the following types:

Stack implementation using Arrays (chances are less)
Stack implementation using Arrays of Structure and Classes. (Important)
Stack implementation using Linked Lists (Important)

Correct way of implementing Stacks

This post is demonstrating the correct way of implementing Stacks using Arrays of Structure and Classes. Walk through the entire post – you will find:

Complete solution keeping in mind CBSE syllabus
Explanation of the code
Downloadable program code

Explanation – Post-mortem of the code

Before we jump to the entire code, lets discuss few important points worth discussing:

Program defines the constant variable named size and later use to describe the size of the array named stack used as a stack.

// size once defined as constant can be used to describe the size of array 
#define size 10

- Using a constant variable is not necessary, from academics point of view. (If we don’t use it we will have to use the integer constant number as a upper limit where ever required.)
Program uses structure named stud to hold actual data.
Program uses a class named STK. Inside this class we create an array of the structure (stud) named stack. While specifying its size, we are using constant defined above – size. If we don’t want to use constant variable – just replace all the occurrences of constant variable size with 10.

//Structure to hold actual data
struct stud 
{ 
    int roll; 
    int avgmarks; 
}; 

class STK 
{ 
    stud stack[size];  // Array of structure, will behave like a stack
    int top; 
  public: 
    STK(); 
    void push(); 
    void pop(); 
    void show(); 
};

Special variable top is defined inside a class, which will always hold the index value of the top most element in the array named stack.
I must initially hold the value -1, when stack is empty.
Since you can’t initialize the class variable while declaring it, a constructor function is employed to initialize the top with the value -1, moment the class object is created inside main() function.

class STK 
{ 
    stud stack[size]; 
    int top;             // variable top defined. 
  // int top=-1          // Wrong. It is not allowed to initialize a variable here.  
  public: 
    STK();               // Forward declaration of constructor
    void push(); 
    void pop(); 
    void show(); 
}; 

//Constructor body
STK::STK() 
{ 
    top=-1; 
}

Other functions push(), pop() and show() are self explanatory. Still it is explained through internal comments, where ever I found necessary.
Function main() is also provided so that you are able to run the entire program. Though in exam you will be asked to implement push(), pop() functions only. In a rare case though you might be asked to implement other parts as well.
Full listing of the working program is listed below.

Complete Program – Stack using Arrays

#include<iostream.h>
#include<conio.h>

#define size 10

struct stud
{
  int roll;
  int avgmarks;
};

class STK
{
  stud stack[size];
  int top;
  public:
  STK();
  void push();
  void pop();
  void show();
};

STK::STK()
{
  top=-1;
}

void STK::push()
{
  if(top<size)
  {
    int r,avgm;
    cout<<"\n Enter Rollno: ";
    cin>>r;
    cout<<"\n Enter Average marks: ";
    cin>>avgm;
    top++;
    stack[top].roll=r;
    stack[top].avgmarks=avgm;
  }
  else
  {
    cout<<"\n Stack Full";
    getch();
  }
}

void STK::pop()
{
  int r,avgm;
  if(top==-1)
  {
    cout<<"\n Stack Empty";
  }
  else
  {
    r=stack[top].roll;
    avgm=stack[top].avgmarks;
    top--;
    cout<<"\n Record popped (Roll,Average Marks): "<<r<<","<<avgm;
  }
  getch();
}
void STK::show()
{
  if(top==-1)
  {
    cout<<"\n Stack Empty!!! No records to show";
  }
  else
  {
    for(int i=top;i>=0;i--)
    {
      cout<<"\n Rollno: "<<stack[i].roll<<", Average Marks: "<<stack[i].avgmarks;
      cout<<"\n ______________________________________";
    }
  }
  getch();
}

void main()
{
  STK stk;
  int choice=0;
  while(choice!=4)
  {
    clrscr();
    cout<<"\n  1. Push";
    cout<<"\n  2. Pop";
    cout<<"\n  3. Show";
    cout<<"\n  4. Exit";
    cout<<"\n  Enter choice: ";
    cin>>choice;

    if(choice==1)
    {
      stk.push();
    }
    else if(choice==2)
    {
      stk.pop();
    }
    else if(choice==3)
    {
      stk.show();
    }
  }
}

Output Screen shots – Stacks implementation using array of Structure and classes

Pushing elements to a stack

Displaying the stack

Popping the top most element in the stack.

Displaying the stack after popping the element

Displaying stack after popping all the elements in a stack

Trying to pop the element when stack is empty.

Download

Stacks using Array of Structure and Classes 1.39 KB 113 downloads

A complete C++ program (as per CBSE CS Syllabus) to demonstrate the working of Stacks...

Download

Conclusion

Though this code is complete in itself, but this piece of code is provided for learning purpose. In board exams you might just face a similar question with some amount of variations, use this tutorial to prepares yourself for that.

Happy Coding.

Pawan Arora AdministratorKeymaster

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Stacks Using Arrays and Classes in C++ – Question with Solution