In programming, what does a function call that references itself achieve?

A function call that references itself creates a programming concept known as recursion. This allows the function to execute repeatedly, invoking itself during its execution. When this self-referential behavior is properly implemented, recursion can simplify the code needed for tasks such as traversing data structures or solving complex problems like calculating factorials or generating Fibonacci sequences.

However, if the recursive function does not have a proper base case or termination condition, it will continue to call itself indefinitely, leading to infinite recursion. This causes the program to run until it exhausts resources such as stack memory, resulting in a stack overflow error.

In contrast, while recursion can sometimes lead to clearer and simpler solutions, it does not inherently enhance performance, obscure logic, or directly relate to return values in a trivial manner. The important takeaway is that without a careful design that includes a base case, recursion can spiral out of control, resulting in infinite loops and system errors.