When should I use tail recursion?

What is tail recursion and when should I use it?

Tail recursion is a specific form of recursion where the recursive call is the last operation in the function. You should use it when you want to optimize for space, as it can prevent stack overflow by reusing the current function's stack frame.

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

Sure! Here's a simple example in Python:

def factorial(n, accumulator=1):
    if n == 0:
        return accumulator
    return factorial(n - 1, n * accumulator)

In this example, the recursive call to factorial is the last operation, making it tail recursive.

Are there any downsides to using tail recursion?

Yes, while tail recursion can optimize space, not all languages support it natively. In languages that don't optimize tail calls, it may not provide the expected benefits.

How do I know if my recursion is tail recursion?

You can determine if your recursion is tail recursive by checking if the recursive call is the last operation in the function. If there are no further calculations after the call, it's tail recursive.