Arizona State University (ASU) CSE240 Introduction to Programming Languages Midterm Practice Exam

Recursion is a fundamental concept in programming where a function calls itself in order to solve a problem. This process often involves breaking down a complex problem into smaller, more manageable sub-problems that are easier to solve. When a recursive function is executed, it continues to call itself with modified parameters until it reaches a base case, which is a condition that stops the recursion.

This method is particularly useful for solving problems that can be defined in terms of smaller instances of the same problem, such as calculating factorials, traversing trees, or solving problems in a divide-and-conquer manner. The ability of the function to "remember" its previous state through the call stack allows it to build up a solution step by step.

Understanding recursion is crucial because it provides an alternative to iterative methods, showcasing a different approach to problem-solving in programming, which can lead to more elegant and cleaner code in certain situations.