What are some examples of memoization in programming?

What are some examples of memoization in programming?

Memoization is an optimization technique used to speed up function calls by storing previously computed results. A common example is the Fibonacci sequence.

Can you show me how memoization works with the Fibonacci sequence?

Sure! Here's a simple example in Python:

def fib(n, memo={}):
    if n in memo:
        return memo[n]
    if n <= 1:
        return n
    memo[n] = fib(n-1, memo) + fib(n-2, memo)
    return memo[n]

This function stores the results of each Fibonacci calculation in a dictionary.

What are the benefits of using memoization?

The main benefits of memoization are improved performance and reduced time complexity, especially for recursive functions. It can turn exponential time complexity into linear.

Are there any downsides to using memoization?

Yes, memoization can increase memory usage since it stores results. It may not be suitable for functions with large input spaces or when memory is limited.