Repetition, Iteration and Recursion

[swaatacba]

I have always believed that these three terms (repetition, iteration and recursion) have similar but quite differentiated meanings in the computing environment. When attempting a quasi academic paper for presentation at a UK conference I was advised that my personal interpretation did not match the expected standard.

Would members expound on how they interpret these terms within a spreadsheet environment?

 

[Zack Barresse]

Hi there,

I would say repetition as firstly annoying, but secondly a repeated pattern of items or objects with no definite end. Repeating the same action, not adding or expending anything to or from itself. I see iteration as a set series or loop in a defined pattern of unique entries. Lastly I see recursion as closely related to iteration, but looping through a series of the same item/object, whilst iteration I see as going through a series of new items/objects.

So yes, while they are all different IMHO, they do have their uniqueness. However far off I am from the actual definitions, I have no idea. I do wonder when somebody says "expected standard". It makes me leary of just exactly whose standard we're talking about. Interesting question though.

 

[nbrcrunch]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recursion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iteration

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repetition

(Noteably, there is no single entry for Repetition. So from a programmatic viewpoint, I would say that a repetition is an iteration of a section of code. Whereas, iteration merely refers to a successive count.)

 

[NdNoviceHlp]

Again with that question Repetition is the same over again. Iteration you control and recursion never ends. I'll say it Again. Dave