The Emergence Machine

Recursion

abstract · Computing · Level 6 · E10

E10Institutions

Each concept here is mapped to its prerequisites — the ideas you'd need first to understand it — all the way down to four foundations: Space, Time, Energy, Pattern. Click any prerequisite to drill down, or scroll for the chain graph.

Trace. Question. Emerge.

Emergence definition

A function that solves a problem by invoking itself, with each subsequent call breaking down the problem into smaller sub-problems until a base case is reached, relying on the process of executing a series of operations according to a defined set of rules and procedures, and the organized arrangement of interrelated parts that work together over time.

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Wiktionary senses

External reference — all senses of the word “recursion” on Wiktionary. This atlas concept maps to only the slice of meaning relevant to the prerequisite graph.

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Source: Wiktionary — “recursion”. Content available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Historical origin

Origin word
recursion
Origin language
English

Prerequisite chain

Possible path of this concept down to the fundamental substrate.

thisfoundationsL6L5L4L3L2L1L0RecursionAlgorithmComputationDataLogicCausalityFunctionSystemFormOperationProcessStructureActionChangeMatterProcedureEnergyPatternSpaceTimeE1 concrete → E14 abstract

Neighborhood

Direct prerequisites above, concepts that depend on this one below.

thisprerequisitesRecursionL6FunctionL3AlgorithmL5ComputationL5E1 concrete → E14 abstract

In other languages

Prerequisites

What you need to understand first.

  • Function L3 (requires)
    Recursion is a technique where a function calls itself to solve problems.
  • Algorithm L5 (requires)
    Recursion is an algorithmic technique where a function calls itself.
  • Computation L5 (requires)
    Understanding recursion requires knowledge of computation as a foundational technical concept.