What if my stack trace is minified?

Minified JavaScript stack traces show obfuscated function names and line numbers. You need a source map to de-obfuscate them. The parser displays the raw frames, but meaningful debugging requires the original source map.

How do I read a Java stack trace?

Java traces start with the exception type and message, followed by 'at' lines showing the class, method, file, and line number. Read from the top to find where the exception was thrown, then trace down to see how the code got there.

Why does my stack trace have 'Caused by' sections?

Caused by sections show the chain of exceptions. The original root cause is typically at the bottom. Each 'Caused by' was wrapped by the exception above it. Start debugging from the bottom-most 'Caused by' section.

How to Read a Stack Trace

4 min readDeveloper

Stack traces are the first clue when debugging application errors, but they can be intimidating if you do not know how to read them. This guide shows you how to parse and understand stack traces from any language using a free browser tool.

Quick Steps

1
Open Stack Trace Parser
Go to the Stack Trace Parser on Toolin.
2
Paste the trace
Enter the full stack trace or error output.
3
Read parsed frames
Review each frame with file, function, and line info.
4
Find the root cause
Locate your application code in the topmost frames.

Stacktrace Parser

Parse and visualize stacktraces from Java, Node.js, and Python

Open Tool

Step-by-Step: Parse a Stack Trace

Open the Stack Trace Parser

Navigate to the Stack Trace Parser on Toolin.

Paste the stack trace

Copy the full stack trace from your error log, console, or crash report and paste it into the input area.

Review the parsed output

The tool identifies the error type, message, and breaks down each frame showing the file, function, and line number.

Identify the root cause

Start from the top of the trace to find where the error originated. Look for your application code rather than library or framework frames.

Reading Stack Traces: Top to Bottom

A stack trace reads from top to bottom as the call sequence that led to the error. The first line contains the error type and message. Below that, each frame shows a function call in the chain. The topmost frame is where the error occurred. Frames below it show the path through your code that reached that point. Focus on frames that reference your application code, since library and framework frames are usually not the source of the bug.

Supported Languages

JavaScript and Node.js stack traces.
Java and JVM language exceptions.
Python tracebacks.
C# and .NET stack traces.
Go panic traces and goroutine dumps.

Try Stacktrace Parser Now — Free, No Sign-up

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my stack trace is minified?: Minified JavaScript stack traces show obfuscated function names and line numbers. You need a source map to de-obfuscate them. The parser displays the raw frames, but meaningful debugging requires the original source map.
How do I read a Java stack trace?: Java traces start with the exception type and message, followed by 'at' lines showing the class, method, file, and line number. Read from the top to find where the exception was thrown, then trace down to see how the code got there.
Why does my stack trace have 'Caused by' sections?: Caused by sections show the chain of exceptions. The original root cause is typically at the bottom. Each 'Caused by' was wrapped by the exception above it. Start debugging from the bottom-most 'Caused by' section.