A software stack is the group of technologies that are layered on top of one another to build and run an application, with each layer relying on the one below it. A typical web stack includes an operating system, a web server, a database, a programming language and framework for the back end, and tools such as JavaScript for the part users see. Well-known combinations have names, such as LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP). Developers who can work across every layer are often called full-stack developers. In crypto, people speak of a Web3 stack: a blockchain at the bottom, smart contracts and indexing services in the middle, and wallets and apps on top. The choice of stack affects cost, speed of development, security and how easily a product can grow, so firms choose and change stacks with care. Also see software library.
Last updated 13 Nov 2026