What are the differences between iterative and recursive solutions?

What are the differences between iterative and recursive solutions?

Iterative solutions use loops to repeat a process, while recursive solutions call themselves to solve smaller instances.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! An iterative example is calculating the factorial using a loop, while a recursive example is using a function that calls itself.

Which one is more efficient?

It depends on the context. Iterative solutions often use less memory, while recursion can be more elegant but may lead to stack overflow.

When should I use recursion over iteration?

Use recursion when the problem can be broken down into smaller subproblems, especially in tree or graph traversals.