Just a question about recursive functions, no code.

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This discussion focuses on enhancing the efficiency of recursive functions in C++. Key strategies include utilizing tail call optimization, which some C++ compilers support, to prevent unnecessary stack memory allocation. Additionally, techniques such as memoization and dynamic programming are highlighted for storing previously computed values, particularly in scenarios like calculating Fibonacci numbers. These methods are essential for optimizing recursive function performance and avoiding stack overflow issues.

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What are different ways of ensuring efficiency in a recursive function in C++? i.e. Prevent calling your recursive function when not necessary.
 
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carl123 said:
Prevent calling your recursive function when not necessary.
Ha-ha. If you do any computation that is unnecessary, then you are a... strange programmer.

Some C++ compilers do tail call optimization. Then if the recursive call is the last thing a recursive function does, no memory is allocated on the stack, unlike in a normal function call, and the recursion behaves as a loop. This is important because otherwise a recursive function can easily run out of stack space.

Sometimes it makes sense to store values already computed by a recursive function to avoid re-computing them. Fibonacci numbers is one example. Memoization and dynamic programming are two techniques that store intermediate results.
 

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