In Java, it is possible for the functions to call themselves. A function is called ‘recursive’ if a statement within the body of a function calls the same function. Sometimes called ‘circular definition’, recursion is thus the process of defining something in terms of itself.

Example

public class Rec {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		myMethod(5); // counter is 5
	}

	static void myMethod(int counter) {
		// whenever counter is 0 function returns to calling block
		if (counter == 0)
			return;
		else {
			System.out.println(counter);
			// decrement counter
			myMethod(--counter);
			return;
		}
	}
}

Output

5
4
3
2
1