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Glite Dictionary
🔙 To trace backward 🧑‍💻 A call list
backtrace

backtrace

1 7.7
A list of program calls that shows how a crash or error happened
  • noun
  • /ˈbækˌtreɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : traza de ejecución
  • To fix the bug, she examined the backtrace, which showed the exact path of function calls that occurred before the failure.

Examples

  • When debugging the application, the developer generated a backtrace to identify the sequence of function calls that led to the error.

  • Also, doing the backtrace is illegal according to the license.

    Blog text (19)

  • Java backtrace for programmers

    Blog text (2)

  • You need to capture a backtrace every time a resource is acquired, keying a stats value counting ups and downs (and whatever else you want to count).

    Blog text (8)

  • While that slows dispatch with indirection through a how-to-dispatch step, it allows you to mix everything and have reified stack backtraces with return addresses of all flavors.

    Blog text (8)

  • The programmer used a backtrace to analyze the series of events that caused the crash in the software.

Synonyms

trace
vsbacktrace
  • Specialized
39 7.2

A recorded list of events that shows how a program ran

focuses on the call sequence to a specific program point to find bugs
traceback
vsbacktrace
  • Specialized
7.7

A report that shows the steps in a computer program that led to an error

is used for a call sequence at any program point, not only errors

How Detailed

backtrace
  • Specialized
1 7.7
trace
  • Specialized
39 7.2
log
429 3.1

Surface Forms

backtrace singular
backtraces plural

Morphology

backtrace = trace (transparent) = back + trace

Formed by 'back' + 'trace' meaning to trace in a backwards direction; the relation is clear for learners who know 'back' and 'trace'.

Etymology

Backtrace comes from the simple parts back and trace, which together mean to 'follow' a trail backward. Imagine someone following footprints in reverse to find where they began; in programming a backtrace is a list that shows the steps that led to a crash or error.