What is the difference between iterative and tail recursion?

What is the difference between iterative and tail recursion?

Iterative recursion uses loops to repeat a process, while tail recursion calls itself at the end of the function.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! An iterative example is a loop that sums numbers, while a tail recursive example is a function that calls itself to calculate factorial.

Which one is more efficient?

Tail recursion can be more efficient because it can be optimized by the compiler to avoid stack overflow, unlike iterative.

Are there any downsides to using tail recursion?

Yes, not all languages optimize tail recursion, so it may not always provide the expected performance benefits.