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# What is a Call Stack?
- URL: https://nolongerset.com/under-100-call-stack/
- Published: 2021-11-04T01:16:54.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-08T13:01:28.000Z
- Description: The concept of a call stack explained in under 100 words. #Under100
- Author: Mike Wolfe
- Tags: Under 100, #Import 2026-05-20 02:59

In programming, a call stack is a last-in, first-out listing of procedure calls.

## Real World Analogy

My wife has a question for my son, Luke, but he's off in the woods. So the question gets relayed through the whole family:

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/image-5.png)

Allison asks Mike

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/image-6.png)

Mike asks Chloe

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/image-7.png)

Chloe asks Mia

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/image-8.png)

Mia asks Cooper

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/image-9.png)

Cooper asks Luke

## Unwinding the Stack

As each person responds, the stack shrinks:

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/image-10.png)

Cooper hears from Luke

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/image-18.png)

Mia hears from Cooper

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/image-17.png)

Chloe hears from Mia

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/image-16.png)

Mike hears from Chloe

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/image-15.png)

Allison hears from Mike

## Viewing the Call Stack

To view the call stack in VBA, go to View > Call Stack... (Ctrl + L). 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/11/image-23.png)

Note that the call stack window is only available while the code is executing.

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***UPDATED*** *\[2021-11-05\]: Added sample code to the VBA Call Stack screenshot; added image credit.*