Lesson plan
recursive data type
In computer programming, a recursive data type is a data type whose definition contains values of the same type. It is also known as a recursively defined, inductively defined or inductive data type. Data of recursive types are usually viewed as directed graphs. An important application of recursion in computer science is in defining dynamic data structures such as Lists and Trees. Recursive data structures can dynamically grow to an arbitrarily large size in response to runtime requirements; in contrast, a static array's size requirements must be set at compile time. Sometimes the term "inductive data type" is used for algebraic data types which are not necessarily recursive.
Article summary
In computer programming, a recursive data type is a data type whose definition contains values of the same type. It is also known as a recursively defined, inductively defined or inductive data type. Data of recursive types are usually viewed as directed graphs. An important application of recursion in computer science is in defining dynamic data structures such as Lists and Trees. Recursive data structures can dynamically grow to an arbitrarily large size in response to runtime requirements; in contrast, a static array's size requirements must be set at compile time. Sometimes the term "inductive data type" is used for algebraic data types which are not necessarily recursive.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.