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### 4.3 Stack Basics

Calc uses RPN notation. If you are not familiar with RPN, see RPN Tutorial.

To add the numbers 1 and 2 in Calc you would type the keys: `1 <RET> 2 +`. (<RET> corresponds to the <ENTER> key on most calculators.) The first three keystrokes “push” the numbers 1 and 2 onto the stack. The `+` key always “pops” the top two numbers from the stack, adds them, and pushes the result (3) back onto the stack. This number is ready for further calculations: `5 -` pushes 5 onto the stack, then pops the 3 and 5, subtracts them, and pushes the result (-2).

Note that the “top” of the stack actually appears at the bottom of the buffer. A line containing a single ‘`.`’ character signifies the end of the buffer; Calculator commands operate on the number(s) directly above this line. The `d t` (`calc-truncate-stack`) command allows you to move the ‘`.`’ marker up and down in the stack; see Truncating the Stack.

Stack elements are numbered consecutively, with number 1 being the top of the stack. These line numbers are ordinarily displayed on the lefthand side of the window. The `d l` (`calc-line-numbering`) command controls whether these numbers appear. (Line numbers may be turned off since they slow the Calculator down a bit and also clutter the display.)

The unshifted letter `o` (`calc-realign`) command repositions the cursor to its top-of-stack “home” position. It also undoes any horizontal scrolling in the window. If you give it a numeric prefix argument, it instead moves the cursor to the specified stack element.

The <RET> (or equivalent <SPC>) key is only required to separate two consecutive numbers. (After all, if you typed `1 2` by themselves the Calculator would enter the number 12.) If you press <RET> or <SPC> not right after typing a number, the key duplicates the number on the top of the stack. `<RET> *` is thus a handy way to square a number.

The <DEL> key pops and throws away the top number on the stack. The <TAB> key swaps the top two objects on the stack. See Stack and Trail, for descriptions of these and other stack-related commands.