Rekurzia

Rekurzia is a fundamental concept in computer science and mathematics where a function calls itself. This self-referential definition allows complex problems to be broken down into smaller, simpler instances of the same problem. A recursive function typically consists of two parts: a base case and a recursive step. The base case is the condition under which the function stops calling itself and returns a direct result. Without a base case, a recursive function would continue to call itself indefinitely, leading to infinite recursion and a program crash. The recursive step is where the function calls itself with a modified input, moving closer to the base case.

Common examples of problems solved using recursion include calculating factorials, traversing tree structures, and sorting algorithms like merge sort and quicksort. While recursion can lead to elegant and concise code, it's important to consider its potential drawbacks. Excessive recursion can consume a significant amount of memory due to the function call stack, potentially leading to a stack overflow error. In some cases, an iterative solution using loops might be more efficient in terms of memory usage and performance. Understanding the interplay between the base case and the recursive step is crucial for effectively designing and implementing recursive algorithms.