juniorRecursion
What is the Base Case and why is it mandatory?
Updated Apr 28, 2026
Short answer
The condition that terminates the recursive calls; without it, recursion becomes infinite.
Deep explanation
Recursion allows for elegant solutions to hierarchical problems. The condition that terminates the recursive calls; without it, recursion becomes infinite. However, it requires careful handling of the stack to prevent memory exhaustion.
Real-world example
Traversing a family tree.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the base case, leading to infinite recursion.
Follow-up questions
- What is the space complexity?