What is the difference between recursion and iteration?

Can you explain the difference between recursion and iteration?

Sure! Recursion is a method where a function calls itself to solve a problem, while iteration uses loops to repeat a block of code.

Can you give me an example of recursion?

Absolutely! A classic example is calculating the factorial of a number. For instance, factorial(5) = 5 * factorial(4), and so on until it reaches 1.

What about iteration? How would you do the same with loops?

With iteration, you would use a loop to multiply the numbers from 1 to 5. For example, you could use a for loop to achieve that.

Are there any advantages to using one over the other?

Yes, recursion can be more elegant and easier to read, but it may lead to stack overflow for deep calls. Iteration is generally more memory efficient.