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In Python, recursion is when a function calls itself directly or indirectly to solve a problem by breaking it into smaller subproblems. Every recursive function must have a base case (to stop recursion) and a recursive case (where the function calls itself).
Python supports multiple types of recursion, each with distinct characteristics.
1. Tail Recursion The recursive call is the last operation in the function, leaving no pending work after the call.
def tail_recursive_factorial(n, acc=1):if n == 0 or n == 1: # Base casereturn accreturn tail_recursive_factorial(n - 1, acc * n) # Tail callprint(tail_recursive_factorial(5)) # 120Copied!âś•CopyNote: Python does not optimize tail recursion, so deep calls can still cause RecursionError.
2. Head Recursion The recursive call happens before any other operations in the function.
def head_recursive_print(n):if n > 0:head_recursive_print(n - 1) # Recursive call firstprint(n)head_recursive_print(5) # 1 2 3 4 5Copied!âś•Copy Recursion in Python - GeeksforGeeks
Mar 27, 2026 · Example 1: This code defines a recursive function to calculate factorial of a number, where function repeatedly calls itself with smaller values …
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