Recursive Functions: The rec Keyword (F#)
The rec keyword is used together with the let keyword to define a recursive function.
// Recursive function:
let rec function-name parameter-list =
function-body
// Mutually recursive functions:
let rec function1-name parameter-list =
function1-body
and function2-name parameter-list =
function2-body
...
Remarks
Recursive functions, functions that call themselves, are identified explicitly in the F# language. This makes the identifer that is being defined available in the scope of the function.
The following code illustrates a recursive function that computes the nth Fibonacci number.
let rec fib n =
if n <= 2 then 1
else fib (n - 1) + fib (n - 2)
Note
In practice, code like that above is wasteful of memory and processor time because it involves the recomputation of previously computed values.
Methods are implicitly recursive within the type; there is no need to add the rec keyword. Let bindings within classes are not implicitly recursive.
Mutually Recursive Functions
Sometimes functions are mutually recursive, meaning that calls form a circle, where one function calls another which in turn calls the first, with any number of calls in between. You must define such functions together in the one let binding, using the and keyword to link them together.
The following example shows two mutually recursive functions.
let rec Even x =
if x = 0 then true
else Odd (x - 1)
and Odd x =
if x = 1 then true
else Even (x - 1)