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Last modified on May 06, 2026
intermediate
Recursion is a programming technique where a function calls itself directly or indirectly to solve a problem. It involves defining a base case that terminates the recursive calls and a recursive case that breaks down the problem into smaller subproblems. Each recursive call processes a smaller instance of the original problem until it reaches the base case, at which point the function returns a value that is propagated back through the chain of calls.
Recursion is commonly used to solve problems that can be broken down into smaller, similar subproblems. Examples include calculating factorials, traversing tree structures, and implementing algorithms like quicksort and mergesort. For instance, calculating the factorial of a number n can be defined recursively as n! : n * (n-1)!, with the base case being 0! : 1.
Recursion is utilized in algorithms and data structures to simplify complex problems by breaking them into manageable parts. It is particularly effective in scenarios involving hierarchical data structures, such as trees and graphs, where recursive traversal methods (like depth-first search) can be implemented. Additionally, recursion can lead to elegant solutions for problems that require repetitive processing of similar data.
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