Does C Have a Recursion Depth Limit?

Does C Have a Recursion Depth Limit?

Python, being an interpreted language, has a maximum recursion depth. Is a similar concept applicable to C , a compiled language?

Answer:

C does not directly impose a depth limit on recursion like Python does. However, it is constrained by the maximum size of the stack, which is typically much smaller than RAM but still quite large.

The stack limit is typically tunable at the operating system level. On macOS, the default stack size is 8 MB.

Understanding the Stack Size and Activation Record:

While the stack size determines the amount of data that can be accommodated, it does not fully determine the depth of recursion. The size of the activation record of the recursive function also needs to be considered.

The activation record contains information about the function's local variables, parameters, and return address. Its size can vary based on the function's complexity.

To calculate the activation record size, one can use a disassembler to examine the stack pointer adjustments within the function. This process involves reading the disassembly and computing the difference between pointer values for variables in successive function calls.

Consequences:

Even though C technically has no recursion depth limit, excessive recursion can lead to stack overflow errors if the combined size of the stack and activation record exceeds the available stack space. Therefore, it is crucial to optimize recursive functions to use the minimum amount of stack space possible.

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