How Functions Work in Assembly: Stack, Stack Frame, Prologue & Epilogue (Easy Explanation)
What is the stack in Assembly? What is a stack frame and how does a function actually work behind the scenes?
In this video, I break down how function calls are managed in low-level programming, how the stack pointer (SP/RSP) and base pointer (BP/EBP/RBP) are used, and how a complete stack frame is created and destroyed using the prologue and epilogue instructions.
This is a must-know topic for anyone learning assembly, reverse engineering, exploit development, or systems programming — and in this video, everything is explained step-by-step in a beginner-friendly way.
🔍 Topics Covered in This Video
What is the stack and how does it work?
Stack Pointer vs Base Pointer
Function calls and stack frame creation
Prologue & Epilogue explained
Local variables on the stack
Passing parameters through the stack
Return address and call mechanics
Analyzing compiler output & assembly instructions
Practical examples with a simple C program
🧠 Who Is This Video For?
Students learning computer architecture or operating systems
Anyone starting with Assembly language
Reverse engineering beginners
Cybersecurity & exploit development learners
Programmers curious about what happens under the hood
💻 Tools Used
Linux
x86/x86-64 Assembly
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Feel free to ask any questions in the comments — I respond to all!
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