Recursion
Re•cur•sion
[ri-kur-zhuh n]
Noun
-
Mathematics:
The determination of a succession of elements
(such as numbers or functions) by operation on
one or more preceding elements according to a
rule or formula involving a finite number of
steps.
-
Computers:
A computer programming technique involving the
use of a procedure, subroutine, function, or
algorithm that calls itself one or more times
until a specified condition is met at which
time the rest of each repetition is processed
from the last one called to the first.
Etymology
From Late Latin recursion-, recursio, from
recurrere
First known use: 1790