Why it matters

Lock-free stacks are foundational. Understanding CAS + ABA shapes concurrent design.

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The architecture

Push: CAS old head with new.

Pop: CAS old head with next.

Handle ABA.

Lock-free stack (Treiber)Push CASold head + newPop CASold head + nextABAtag or hazardTreiber 1986; heavy contention needs elimination back-off array
Lock-free stack (Treiber).
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How it works end to end

Treiber 1986.

CAS on head.

Elimination for hot contention.