A more general approach is to use stack. When the CPU executes a call, it places the return address on the stack. When it executes a return, it uses the address on the stack.

It may happen that, the called procedure might have to use the processor registers. This will overwrite the contents of the registers and the calling environment will lose the information. So, it is necessary to preserve the contents of processor register too along with the return address. The stack is used to store the contents of processor register. On return from the procedure call, the contents of the stack will be popped out to appropriate registers.

In addition to provide a return address, it is also often necessary to pass parameters with a procedure call. The most general approach to parameter passing is the stack. When the processor executes a call, it not only stacks the return address, it stacks parameters to be passed to the called procedures. The called procedure can access the parameters from the stack.Upon return, return parameters can also be placed on the stack. The entire set of parameters, including return address, that is stored for a procedure invocation is referred to as stack frame.

Most commonly used transfer of control operation  (Next Page)