How stacks are used

• A stack is used to store the sequence of return addresses when there are nested calls

• The calling (outer) procedure

  • pushes address in $31 onto stack
  • calls the procedure ($31 contains return address)
  • pops stack to restore $31 (after procedure returns)

• The called procedure ... before returning

  • if it has called another procedure, it overwrites $31 with a pop from the stack
  • jr $31

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