Which two elements must be present in a recursive function?

In a recursive function, a recursive call and a base case are essential components.

The recursive call is crucial because it allows the function to call itself with modified parameters, thereby moving towards resolving the overall problem. This self-reference is what enables recursion to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable subproblems.

The base case is equally important because it provides the condition under which the recursion will terminate. Without a base case, the function would continue to call itself indefinitely, leading to a stack overflow or infinite loop. The base case essentially acts as a stopping criterion, ensuring that the recursion eventually concludes by returning a result instead of perpetuating itself endlessly.

Together, these two elements enable the recursive function to execute correctly and meaningfully, allowing it to solve problems in a structured manner.