Java™ How To Program (Early Objects), Tenth Edition

Section 18.7 Recursion vs. Iteration

• Both iteration and recursion are based on a control statement: Iteration uses a repetition statement, recursion a selection statement.

• Both iteration and recursion involve repetition: Iteration explicitly uses a repetition statement, whereas recursion achieves repetition through repeated method calls.

• Iteration and recursion each involve a termination test: Iteration terminates when the loop-continuation condition fails, recursion when a base case is recognized.

• Iteration with counter-controlled repetition and recursion each gradually approach termination: Iteration keeps modifying a counter until the counter assumes a value that makes the loop-continuation condition fail, whereas recursion keeps ...