Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
recursive definition
noun
/rɪˈkɜːrsɪv dɪˈfɪnɪʃən/
Definition
A recursive definition is a way of defining something in terms of itself, typically used in mathematics and computer science to describe a set of objects or a function.
Examples
- A recursive definition of a factorial is: the factorial of a non-negative integer n is n times the factorial of (n-1), with the base case defined as 0! = 1.
- In programming, a recursive function calls itself in order to solve a problem by breaking it down into smaller instances of the same problem.
Meaning
It describes a process or a collection of items where each item or element builds upon previous ones or itself, thus creating a cycle of definition and understanding.
Synonyms
- Self-referential definition
- Cyclic definition
- Inductive definition
