Recursion in C++

A cyclic function call is called recusion. In simple when a function call itself again and again is called recursion. This call may be direct or indirect. So that there are two types of recursions.

Types of Recursion

1. Direct Recursion

2. Indirect Recursion

1. Direct Recursion

In this type of recursion function/method place a call to itself in its own body. This recursion involves only single function.

Example:

int printSeries ( int x ) {
	
	cout<<x<<endl;
	x--;
	if(x == 1)
		return 1;
	else
		return printSeries(x);
}

1. Indirect Recursion

Indirect recursion involves more than one function to produce a cyclic call. In this technique first calling function place a call to another function and subsequently first function is called from another function. Let suppose function calls in following way.

• Function A call function B
• Function B call function C
• Function C call function A

Example:

This example code will also generate the similar result as given in direct recursion.

int printSeries ( int x) {
	
	cout<<x<<endl;
	x = reduceNumber(x);
	if(x == 1)
		return 1;
	else
		return printSeries(x);
}
int reduceNumber( int w ) {
	return --w;
}

Parts of Recursion

There are two parts of recursion.

1. Base condition
2. Recursive call

1. Base condition

This is the test condition which made recursive call false at some point. This base condition normally contain return statement.When this base condition become true the recursion ends.

Example:

Base condition for the given exapmle is as.

if(x == 1)
    return 1;

2. Recursive Call

It is the satement which make a call to the function. it call to same function from its own body so that this is called recursive call.

Example:

From the above code example recursive call is as given.

return printSeries(x);

Difference between Recursion and Iteration: