recursion.

A method in which a function, rule, or structure refers to or applies a version of itself, often to a smaller part of the problem.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• recursive calls
• a recursion limit

On the page

The parser reached its recursion limit before it could finish the nested message.

She traced the recursion back to a case the program had never learned to terminate.

Usage notes

Primary category: sci-fi. Forms: Usually uncountable; recursions for distinct recursive calls or constructions. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.