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What does "recursion" mean in programming?
recursion is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.
Definition
A technique where a function calls itself to solve a smaller version of the same problem. Every recursive function needs a base case to stop the recursion; otherwise, it runs forever and causes a stack overflow.
Example
"Use recursion to traverse the directory tree and find all files with a .log extension."
Word forms
| Form | Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| recurse | verb (infinitive) | To call a function from within itself | "The function recurses until the base case is reached." |
| recursive | adjective | Describing a function or process that calls itself | "Use a recursive approach to traverse the tree." |
| recursively | adverb | In a manner that involves calling itself | "The function calls itself recursively until n equals 0." |
Related terms
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