What is the difference between tail and non-tail recursion?

Can you explain the difference between tail recursion and non-tail recursion?

Sure! Tail recursion is when the recursive call is the last operation in the function, allowing for optimization. Non-tail recursion has additional operations after the recursive call.

Why is tail recursion more efficient?

Tail recursion can be optimized by the compiler to reuse the current function's stack frame, reducing memory usage and preventing stack overflow.

Can you give me an example of each?

Of course! For tail recursion, consider a function that calculates the factorial of a number where the recursive call is the last action. For non-tail recursion, a function that calculates Fibonacci numbers where the recursive calls are followed by additional operations.

Are there languages that don't support tail recursion optimization?

Yes, some languages like Python do not optimize tail recursion, which can lead to stack overflow for deep recursion.