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Programming Concepts Intermediate

What is Recursion?

A programming technique where a function calls itself to solve a problem by breaking it into smaller subproblems.

Recursion solves problems by having a function call itself with modified parameters until reaching a base case. Classic examples include factorial calculation, Fibonacci numbers, tree traversal, and divide-and-conquer algorithms.

Every recursive solution needs a base case (stopping condition) to prevent infinite recursion. Tail recursion can be optimized by compilers. Some problems are naturally recursive (tree/graph traversal), while iterative solutions may be more efficient for others.

Related Terms

Queue
A data structure that follows First-In-First-Out (FIFO) ordering, where elements are added at the rear and removed from the front.
Closure
A function that captures and retains access to variables from its enclosing scope, even after that scope has finished executing.
Binary Search
An efficient search algorithm that finds a target value in a sorted array by repeatedly dividing the search interval in half.
Unit Testing
Testing individual components or functions of a program in isolation to verify they work correctly.
Refactoring
Restructuring existing code without changing its external behavior to improve readability, maintainability, and performance.
DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself)
A software development principle that aims to reduce code duplication by abstracting common patterns into reusable components.
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