Recursive implementation of C++ functions: Is there a limit to recursion depth?

The recursion depth of C functions is limited. Exceeding this limit will cause a stack overflow error. The limit value varies between systems and compilers, but is usually between 1000 and 10000. Solutions include: 1. Tail recursion optimization; 2. Tail call; 3. Iterative implementation.

#Recursive implementation of C function: Is there a limit to the recursion depth?

In C, recursion is a powerful technique that allows functions to call themselves. However, there is a limit to the recursion depth, and exceeding this limit causes an error called a stack overflow.

Stack Overflow

Each function call pushes some data (such as function parameters, local variables, and return addresses) onto the stack. When the function returns, this data will be popped off the stack. If the recursion depth is too large, the stack may be exhausted, causing a stack overflow error.

Recursion depth limit

C The exact value of the recursion depth limit is not defined because it depends on the system and compiler. However, the limit can usually be considered to be between 1000 and 10000.

Practical case

Consider the following recursive function to calculate the nth term of the Fibonacci sequence:

int fib(int n) {
  if (n <= 1)
    return n;
  else
    return fib(n - 1) + fib(n - 2);
}

If you try to calculate fib(10000) , it will cause a stack overflow because the recursion depth exceeds the limit.

Solution

There are several solutions to the recursion depth limit problem:

• Tail recursion optimization: Some compilers can optimize tail recursive calls, converting them into iterations, thereby eliminating the need for a recursive stack.
• Tail call: Manually convert the recursive call into a tail call, and assign parameters and return values ​​before the function returns.
• Iterative implementation: Rewrite the function to use a loop instead of recursion to calculate the result.

Conclusion

The recursion depth of a C function is limited. Exceeding this limit will cause a stack overflow error. This limitation can be worked around through tail-recursive optimization, tail calls, or iterative implementations.

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