The physical origin of surface stress is discussed. Based on these considerations a general function form of the dependence of the adsorbate-induced surface stress on the coverage is proposed. Experimental data on the adsorption of oxygen, sulfur, and carbon on Ni(100) are in agreement with this proposition. It is shown further that the p4g reconstruction of the Ni(100) surface upon carbon deposition is caused by the compressive stress induced by the carbon atoms. Recent results on CO on Ni(100) are, however, at variance with die simple reasoning concerning all aspects of the induced surface stress-the sign, the magnitude, as well as the coverage dependence.