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Recursive vs Iteration - What's the difference?

recursive | iteration |

As an adjective recursive

is drawing upon itself, referring back.

As a noun iteration is

iteration.

recursive

English

Adjective

{{examples-right, sense=function, The factorial function - : f(0) = 1 : f(n) = n \times f(n-1) where n is any natural number greater than 0}} (en adjective)
  • drawing upon itself, referring back.
    • The recursive nature of stories which borrow from each other
  • (mathematics, not comparable) of an expression, each term of which is determined by applying a formula to preceding terms
  • (computing, not comparable) of a program or function that calls itself
  • (computing theory, not comparable, of a function) which can be computed by a theoretical model of a computer, in a finite amount of time
  • (computing theory, not comparable, of a set) whose characteristic function is recursive (4)

    • Hyponyms

    * (of a function) primitive recursive

    Hypernyms

    * recursively enumerable

    Related terms

    * recursivity * recurrent * recurrence * recursion * recursive conundrum * co-recursive

    Derived terms

    * recursive acronym * tail recursive *

    See also

    * (wikipedia)

    iteration

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Recital or performance a second time; repetition.
  • A variation or version.
    • The architect drafted several iterations of the floorplan before deciding on his final design.
  • * 2014 , "Jazz at Lincoln Center", Radio New Zealand Schedule for Saturday 6th December [http://www.radionz.co.nz/concert/schedules/20141206]
    • Still going strong in his ninth decade, Wein celebrates his 88th birthday behind the piano accompanied by the latest iteration of his band, the Newport All-Stars, featuring tenor saxophonist [...]
  • (computing) the use of repetition in a computer program, especially in the form of a loop
  • (computing) a single repetition of the code within such a repetitive process
    • The code calculates the appropriate value at each iteration .