Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
In recursive algorithms, the base case represents one or more conditions that determine when to stop further recursive calls. It provides the final result or solution without further recursion.
Related terms
Recursive Step: The part of a recursive algorithm that breaks down the problem into smaller subproblems.
Termination Condition: An alternative term for base case, representing the condition that stops the recursion.
Factorial Function: A common example of a recursive function where the base case is defined as when the input value is 0 or 1.