A program is called recursive when an entity calls itself. A program is call iterative when there is a loop (or repetition). Example: Program to find the factorial of a number
C++
// C++ program to find factorial of given number
#include<bits/stdc++.h>
usingnamespacestd;
// ----- Recursion -----
// method to find factorial of given number
intfactorialUsingRecursion(intn)
{
if(n == 0)
return1;
// recursion call
returnn * factorialUsingRecursion(n - 1);
}
// ----- Iteration -----
// Method to find the factorial of a given number
intfactorialUsingIteration(intn)
{
intres = 1, i;
// using iteration
for(i = 2; i <= n; i++)
res *= i;
returnres;
}
// Driver method
intmain()
{
intnum = 5;
cout << "Factorial of "<< num <<
" using Recursion is: "<<
factorialUsingRecursion(5) << endl;
cout << "Factorial of "<< num <<
" using Iteration is: "<<
factorialUsingIteration(5);
return0;
}
// This code is contributed by mits
Java
// Java program to find factorial of given number
classGFG {
// ----- Recursion -----
// method to find factorial of given number
staticintfactorialUsingRecursion(intn)
{
if(n == 0)
return1;
// recursion call
returnn * factorialUsingRecursion(n - 1);
}
// ----- Iteration -----
// Method to find the factorial of a given number
staticintfactorialUsingIteration(intn)
{
intres = 1, i;
// using iteration
for(i = 2; i <= n; i++)
res *= i;
returnres;
}
// Driver method
publicstaticvoidmain(String[] args)
{
intnum = 5;
System.out.println("Factorial of "+ num
+ " using Recursion is: "
+ factorialUsingRecursion(5));
System.out.println("Factorial of "+ num
+ " using Iteration is: "
+ factorialUsingIteration(5));
}
}
Python3
# Python3 program to find factorial of given number
# ----- Recursion -----
# method to find factorial of given number
deffactorialUsingRecursion(n):
if(n ==0):
return1;
# recursion call
returnn *factorialUsingRecursion(n -1);
# ----- Iteration -----
# Method to find the factorial of a given number
deffactorialUsingIteration(n):
res =1;
# using iteration
fori inrange(2, n +1):
res *=i;
returnres;
# Driver method
num =5;
print("Factorial of",num,"using Recursion is:",
factorialUsingRecursion(5));
print("Factorial of",num,"using Iteration is:",
factorialUsingIteration(5));
# This code is contributed by mits
C#
// C# program to find factorial of
// given number
usingSystem;
classGFG
{
// ----- Recursion -----
// method to find factorial of
// given number
staticintfactorialUsingRecursion(intn)
{
if(n == 0)
return1;
// recursion call
returnn * factorialUsingRecursion(n - 1);
}
// ----- Iteration -----
// Method to find the factorial of
// a given number
staticintfactorialUsingIteration(intn)
{
intres = 1, i;
// using iteration
for(i = 2; i <= n; i++)
res *= i;
returnres;
}
// Driver Code
publicstaticvoidMain(String[] args)
{
intnum = 5;
Console.WriteLine("Factorial of "+ num +
" using Recursion is: "+
factorialUsingRecursion(5));
Console.WriteLine("Factorial of "+ num +
" using Iteration is: "+
factorialUsingIteration(5));
}
}
// This code has been contributed by Rajput-Ji
PHP
<?php
// PHP program to find factorial of given number
// ----- Recursion -----
// method to find factorial of given number
functionfactorialUsingRecursion($n)
{
if($n== 0)
return1;
// recursion call
return$n* factorialUsingRecursion($n- 1);
}
// ----- Iteration -----
// Method to find the factorial of a given number
functionfactorialUsingIteration($n)
{
$res= 1;
// using iteration
for($i= 2; $i<= $n; $i++)
$res*= $i;
return$res;
}
// Driver method
$num= 5;
print("Factorial of ".$num." using Recursion is: ".
factorialUsingRecursion(5)."\n");
print("Factorial of ".$num." using Iteration is: ".
factorialUsingIteration(5)."\n");
// This code is contributed by mits
?>
Javascript
<script>
// JavaScript program to find factorial of given number
// ----- Recursion -----
// method to find factorial of given number
functionfactorialUsingRecursion(n)
{
if(n == 0)
return1;
// recursion call
returnn * factorialUsingRecursion(n - 1);
}
// ----- Iteration -----
// Method to find the factorial of a given number
functionfactorialUsingIteration(n)
{
varres = 1, i;
// using iteration
for(i = 2; i <= n; i++)
res *= i;
returnres;
}
// Driver method
varnum = 5;
document.write("Factorial of "+ num
+ " using Recursion is: "
+ factorialUsingRecursion(5)+"<br>");
document.write("Factorial of "+ num
+ " using Iteration is: "
+ factorialUsingIteration(5));
// This code is contributed by shivanisinghss2110
</script>
Output:
Factorial of 5 using Recursion is: 120
Factorial of 5 using Iteration is: 120
Below are the detailed example to illustrate the difference between the two:
Time Complexity: Finding the Time complexity of Recursion is more difficult than that of Iteration.
Recursion: Time complexity of recursion can be found by finding the value of the nth recursive call in terms of the previous calls. Thus, finding the destination case in terms of the base case, and solving in terms of the base case gives us an idea of the time complexity of recursive equations. Please see Solving Recurrences for more details.
Iteration: Time complexity of iteration can be found by finding the number of cycles being repeated inside the loop.
Usage: Usage of either of these techniques is a trade-off between time complexity and size of code. If time complexity is the point of focus, and number of recursive calls would be large, it is better to use iteration. However, if time complexity is not an issue and shortness of code is, recursion would be the way to go.
Recursion: Recursion involves calling the same function again, and hence, has a very small length of code. However, as we saw in the analysis, the time complexity of recursion can get to be exponential when there are a considerable number of recursive calls. Hence, usage of recursion is advantageous in shorter code, but higher time complexity.
Iteration: Iteration is repetition of a block of code. This involves a larger size of code, but the time complexity is generally lesser than it is for recursion.
Overhead: Recursion has a large amount of Overhead as compared to Iteration.
Recursion: Recursion has the overhead of repeated function calls, that is due to repetitive calling of the same function, the time complexity of the code increases manyfold.
Iteration: Iteration does not involve any such overhead.
Infinite Repetition: Infinite Repetition in recursion can lead to CPU crash but in iteration, it will stop when memory is exhausted.
Recursion: In Recursion, Infinite recursive calls may occur due to some mistake in specifying the base condition, which on never becoming false, keeps calling the function, which may lead to system CPU crash.
Iteration: Infinite iteration due to mistake in iterator assignment or increment, or in the terminating condition, will lead to infinite loops, which may or may not lead to system errors, but will surely stop program execution any further.
Property
Recursion
Iteration
Definition
Function calls itself.
A set of instructions repeatedly executed.
Application
For functions.
For loops.
Termination
Through base case, where there will be no function call.
When the termination condition for the iterator ceases to be satisfied.
Usage
Used when code size needs to be small, and time complexity is not an issue.
Used when time complexity needs to be balanced against an expanded code size.
Code Size
Smaller code size
Larger Code Size.
Time Complexity
Very high(generally exponential) time complexity.
Relatively lower time complexity(generally polynomial-logarithmic).
We use cookies to ensure you have the best browsing experience on our website. By using our site, you
acknowledge that you have read and understood our
Cookie Policy &
Privacy Policy