What is tail recursion in C++ and how does it work?

What is tail recursion in C++ and how does it work?

Tail recursion is a specific form of recursion where the recursive call is the last operation in the function. This allows for optimizations by the compiler.

Can you give me an example of a tail recursive function in C++?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

int tailRecursiveFactorial(int n, int accumulator = 1) {
    if (n == 0) return accumulator;
    return tailRecursiveFactorial(n - 1, n * accumulator);
}

This function calculates the factorial of a number using tail recursion.

What are the benefits of using tail recursion?

The main benefits include reduced risk of stack overflow and improved performance due to compiler optimizations that can convert the recursion into iteration.

Are there any limitations to tail recursion?

Yes, not all compilers optimize tail recursion, and it may not be supported in all programming languages. Additionally, it can be less intuitive than regular recursion.