The stack and heap are two distinct regions of computer memory used for dynamic memory allocation during program execution.

The stack is a region of memory located in the RAM (Random Access Memory) of a computer that is used to store local variables, function parameters, and other data related to the current function call. The stack is a LIFO (Last In First Out) data structure that grows and shrinks automatically as functions are called and returned. The stack is a limited resource, and if too much memory is used, a stack overflow error can occur.

The heap, on the other hand, is a region of memory used for dynamic memory allocation during program execution. Unlike the stack, the heap is not managed automatically by the computer’s runtime system. Instead, the programmer must explicitly allocate and deallocate memory on the heap using functions such as malloc() and free(). The heap is an expandable region of memory that can grow as needed during program execution, but it can also become fragmented over time if memory is not properly managed.