Recursion (glossary)

the process of repeating items in a self-similar way.

Recursion in computer science is a method where the solution to a problem depends on solutions to smaller instances of the same problem. The approach can be applied to many types of problems, and is one of the central ideas of computer science

Source(s)

This definition was developed for the SEBoK version 0.5. Note to reviewers : If you are aware of a more authoritative definition, please provide this information in your review.

Discussion

In the systems engineering context, recursion is used in re-application of the same standard (in the case ISO/IEC 15288) as a system is decomposed into system elements and where the elements are systems as well. The standard is re-applied for each System of Interest on each level.