Types of Recursion

Recursion can be categorized as either Head Recursion or Tail Recursion, depending on where the recursive method call is placed.

In head recursion, the recursive call, when it happens, comes before other processing in the function (think of it happening at the top, or head, of the function).

In tail recursion, it’s the opposite—the processing occurs before the recursive call. Choosing between the two recursive styles may seem arbitrary, but the choice can make all the difference.

A function with a path with a single recursive call at the beginning of the path uses what is called head recursion. The factorial function of a previous exhibit uses head recursion. The first thing it does once it determines that recursion is needed is to call itself with the decremented parameter. A function with a single recursive call at the end of a path is using tail recursion.

public void tail(int n)              public void head(int n)
{                                       {
   if(n == 1)                             if(n == 0)
      return;                                return;
   else                                   else
      System.out.println(n);                 head(n-1);

   tail(n-1);                              System.out.println(n);
}                                        }

If the recursive call occurs at the end of a method, it is called a tail recursion. The tail recursion is similar to a loop. The method executes all the statements before jumping into the next recursive call.

If the recursive call occurs at the beginning of a method, it is called a head recursion. The method saves the state before jumping into the next recursive call.

Reference: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/21426688/the-difference-between-head-tail-recursion