Recursion is a powerful tool in programming where a function calls itself to solve smaller instances of a problem. It's particularly useful in tasks like tree traversal, combinatorial problems, and dynamic programming.

Key Concepts of Recursion

1. Base Case: The condition under which recursion stops.
2. Recursive Case: The part of the function that reduces the problem.

Example: Factorial Calculation

Here’s how recursion works in calculating the factorial of a number:

python
Copydef factorial(n):
    if n == 0:
        return 1  # Base case
    return n * factorial(n - 1)  # Recursive case
 
print(factorial(5))  # Output: 120

When to Use Recursion

• When the problem can naturally be divided into similar subproblems. When an iterative solution becomes cumbersome or less readable.

Mastering recursion can make you a more versatile programmer, but always be cautious of stack overflow issues!