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{{Short description|Function computable with bounded loops}}
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In [[computability theory]], a '''primitive recursive function''' is, roughly speaking, a function that can be computed by a [[computer program]] whose [[loop (programming)|loops]] are all [[For loop|"for" loops]] (that is, an upper bound of the number of iterations of every loop is fixed before entering the loop). Primitive recursive functions form a strict [[subset]] of those [[general recursive function]]s that are also [[total function]]s. 

The importance of primitive recursive functions lies in the fact that most [[computable function]]s that are studied in [[number theory]] (and more generally in mathematics) are primitive recursive. For example, [[addition]] and [[division (mathematics)|division]], the [[factorial]] and [[exponential function]], and the function which returns the ''n''th prime are all primitive recursive.{{sfn|Brainerd|Landweber|1974}} In fact, for showing that a computable function is primitive recursive, it suffices to show that its [[time complexity]] is bounded above by a primitive recursive function of the input size.{{sfn|Hartmanis|1989}} It is hence not particularly easy to devise a [[computable function]] that is ''not'' primitive recursive; some examples are shown in section {{slink||Limitations}} below.

The set of primitive recursive functions is known as [[PR (complexity)|PR]] in [[computational complexity theory]].

== Definition ==

A primitive recursive function takes a fixed number of arguments, each a [[natural number]] (nonnegative integer: {0, 1, 2, ...}), and returns a natural number. If it takes ''n'' arguments it is called ''n''-[[arity|ary]].

The basic primitive recursive functions are given by these [[axiom]]s:

{{ordered list|start=1
|1=''Constant functions <math>C_n^k</math>'': For each natural number <math>n</math> and every <math>k</math>, the ''k''-ary constant function, defined by <math>C_n^k(x_1,\ldots,x_k) \ \stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}\  n</math>, is primitive recursive.

| 2=''Successor function'': The 1-ary successor function ''S'', which returns the successor of its argument (see [[Peano postulates]]), that is, <math>S(x) \ \stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}\  x + 1</math>, is primitive recursive.

| 3=''Projection functions'' <math>P_i^k</math>: For all natural numbers <math>i, k</math> such that <math>1\le i\le k</math>, the ''k''-ary function defined by <math>P_i^k(x_1,\ldots,x_k) \ \stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}\  x_i</math> is primitive recursive.
}}

More complex primitive recursive functions can be obtained by applying the [[operation (mathematics)|operation]]s given by these axioms:

{{ordered list|start=4
| 4=''Composition operator'' <math>\circ\,</math> (also called the ''substitution operator''): Given an ''m''-ary function <math>h(x_1,\ldots,x_m)\,</math> and ''m'' ''k''-ary functions <math>g_1(x_1,\ldots,x_k),\ldots,g_m(x_1,\ldots, x_k)</math>: <math display="block">h \circ (g_1, \ldots, g_m) \ \stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}\  f, \quad\text{where}\quad f(x_1,\ldots,x_k) = h(g_1(x_1,\ldots,x_k),\ldots,g_m(x_1,\ldots,x_k)).</math>  For <math>m=1</math>, the ordinary [[function composition]] <math>h \circ g_1</math> is obtained.

| 5=''Primitive recursion operator'' <math>\rho</math>: Given the ''k''-ary function <math>g(x_1,\ldots,x_k)\,</math> and the <math>(k+2)</math>-ary function <math>h(y,z,x_1,\ldots,x_k)\,</math>:
:<math display="block">\begin{align}
             \rho(g, h) &\ \stackrel{\mathrm{def}}{=}\  f, \quad\text{where the }(k+1)\text{-ary function } f \text{ is defined by}\\
f(y, x_1, \dots, x_k) &= \begin{cases}
  g(x_1, \dots, x_k)     & \text{if } y=0  \\
  h(y', f(y', x_1, \dots, x_k) ,x_1, \dots, x_k) & \text{if } y=S(y') \text{ for a } y' \in \mathbb{N}  \\
\end{cases}
\end{align}</math>
''Interpretation:''
The function <math>f</math> acts as a [[for loop|for-loop]] from <math>0</math> up to the value of its first argument. The rest of the arguments for <math>f</math>, denoted here with <math>x_1,\ldots,x_k</math>, are a set of initial conditions for the for-loop which may be used by it during calculations but which are immutable by it. The functions <math>g</math> and <math>h</math> on the right-hand side of the equations that define <math>f</math> represent the body of the loop, which performs calculations. The function <math>g</math> is used only once to perform initial calculations. Calculations for subsequent steps of the loop are performed by <math>h</math>. The first parameter of <math>h</math> is fed the "current" value of the for-loop's index. The second parameter of <math>h</math> is fed the result of the for-loop's previous calculations, from previous steps. The rest of the parameters for <math>h</math> are those immutable initial conditions for the for-loop mentioned earlier. They may be used by <math>h</math> to perform calculations but they will not themselves be altered by <math>h</math>.
}}

The '''primitive recursive functions''' are the basic functions and those obtained from the basic functions by applying these operations a finite number of times.

=== Primitive-recursiveness of vector-valued functions ===
A (vector-valued) function{{refn|also known as ''"sequence function"''{{sfn|Fachini|Maggiolo-Schettini|1979}}{{sfn|Fachini|Maggiolo-Schettini|1982}}}} <math>f : \mathbb{N}^m \to \mathbb{N}^n</math> is primitive recursive if it can be written as
:<math>f(x_1, \dots, x_m) = (f_1(x_1, \dots, x_m), \dots, f_n(x_1, \dots, x_m))</math>
where each component <math>f_i : \mathbb{N}^m \to \mathbb{N}</math> is a (scalar-valued) primitive recursive function.<ref>{{harvtxt|PlanetMath}}</ref>

== Examples ==

{{unordered list

|<math>C_0^1</math> is a 1-ary function which returns <math>0</math> for every input: <math>C_0^1(x) = 0</math>.

|<math>C_1^1</math> is a 1-ary function which returns <math>1</math> for every input: <math>C_1^1(x) = 1</math>.

|<math>C_3^0</math> is a 0-ary function, i.e. a constant: <math>C_3^0 = 3</math>.

|<math>P_1^1</math> is the identity function on the natural numbers: <math>P_1^1(x) = x</math>.

|<math>P_1^2</math> and <math>P_2^2</math> is the left and right projection on natural number pairs, respectively: <math>P_1^2(x,y) = x</math> and <math>P_2^2(x,y) = y</math>.

|<math>S \circ S</math> is a 1-ary function that adds 2 to its input, <math>(S \circ S)(x) = x+2</math>.

|<math>S \circ C_0^1</math> is a 1-ary function which returns 1 for every input: <math>(S \circ C_0^1)(x) = S(C_0^1(x)) = S(0) = 1</math>. That is, <math>S \circ C_0^1</math> and <math>C_1^1</math> are the same function: <math>S \circ C_0^1 = C_1^1</math>. In a similar way, every <math>C_n^k</math> can be expressed as a composition of appropriately many <math>S</math> and <math>C_0^k</math>. Moreover, <math>C_0^k</math> equals <math>C_0^1 \circ P_1^k</math>, since <math>C_0^k(x_1,\ldots,x_k) = 0 = C_0^1(x_1) = C_0^1(P_1^k(x_1,\ldots,x_k)) = (C_0^1 \circ P_1^k)(x_1,\ldots,x_k)</math>. For these reasons, some authors<ref>E.g.: {{citation | author=Henk Barendregt | author-link=Henk Barendregt | contribution=Functional Programming and Lambda Calculus | pages=321&ndash;364 | isbn=0-444-88074-7 | editor=Jan van Leeuwen | editor-link=Jan van Leeuwen | title=Formal Models and Semantics | publisher=Elsevier | series=Handbook of Theoretical Computer Science | volume=B | year=1990}} Here: 2.2.6 ''initial functions'', Def.2.2.7 ''primitive recursion'', p.331-332.</ref> define <math>C_n^k</math> only for <math>n = 0</math> and <math>k = 1</math>.
}}

===Addition===

A definition of the 2-ary function <math>Add</math>, to compute the sum of its arguments, can be obtained using the primitive recursion operator <math>\rho</math>. To this end, the well-known equations 
:<math>\begin{array}{rcll}
0+y & = & y & \text{ and} \\
S(x)+y & = & S(x+y) & . \\
\end{array}</math>
are "rephrased in primitive recursive function terminology": In the definition of <math>\rho(g,h)</math>, the first equation suggests to choose <math>g = P_1^1</math> to obtain <math>Add(0,y) = g(y) = y</math>; the second equation suggests to choose <math>h = S \circ P_2^3</math> to obtain <math>Add(S(x),y) = h(x,Add(x,y),y) = (S \circ P_2^3)(x,Add(x,y),y) = S(Add(x,y))</math>. Therefore, the addition function can be defined as <math>Add = \rho(P_1^1,S \circ P_2^3)</math>. As a computation example,
:<math>\begin{array}{lll}
& Add(1,7) \\
= & \rho(P_1^1,S \circ P_2^3) \; (S(0),7) & \text{ by Def. } Add, S \\
= & (S \circ P_2^3)(0,Add(0,7),7) & \text{ by case } \rho(g,h) \; (S(...),...) \\
= & S(Add(0,7)) & \text{ by Def. } \circ, P_2^3 \\
= & S( \; \rho(P_1^1,S \circ P_2^3) \; (0,7) \; ) & \text{ by Def. } Add \\
= & S(P_1^1(7)) & \text{ by case } \rho(g,h) \; (0,...) \\
= & S(7) & \text{ by Def. } P_1^1 \\
= & 8 & \text{ by Def. } S . \\ 
\end{array}</math>

===Doubling===

Given <math>Add</math>, the 1-ary function <math>Add \circ (P_1^1,P_1^1)</math> doubles its argument, <math>(Add \circ (P_1^1,P_1^1))(x) = Add(x,x) = x+x</math>.

===Multiplication===

In a similar way as addition, multiplication can be defined by <math>Mul = \rho(C_0^1,Add \circ(P_2^3,P_3^3))</math>. This reproduces the well-known multiplication equations: 
:<math>\begin{array}{lll}
& Mul(0,y) \\
= & \rho(C_0^1,Add \circ(P_2^3,P_3^3)) \; (0,y) & \text{ by Def. } Mul \\
= & C_0^1(y) & \text{ by case } \rho(g,h) \; (0,...)\\
= & 0 & \text{ by Def. } C_0^1 . \\
\end{array}</math> 
and 
:<math>\begin{array}{lll}
& Mul(S(x),y) \\
= & \rho(C_0^1,Add \circ(P_2^3,P_3^3)) \; (S(x),y) & \text{ by Def. } Mul \\
= & (Add \circ(P_2^3,P_3^3)) \; (x,Mul(x,y),y) & \text{ by case } \rho(g,h) \; (S(...),...) \\
= & Add(Mul(x,y),y) & \text{ by Def. } \circ, P_2^3, P_3^3 \\
= & Mul(x,y)+y & \text{ by property of } Add . \\
\end{array}</math>

===Predecessor===

The predecessor function acts as the "opposite" of the successor function and is recursively defined by the rules <math>Pred(0) = 0</math> and <math>Pred(S(n)) = n</math>. A primitive recursive definition is <math>Pred = \rho(C_0^0, P_1^2)</math>. As a computation example,
:<math>\begin{array}{lll}
& Pred(8) \\
= & \rho(C_0^0, P_1^2) \; (S(7)) & \text{ by Def. } Pred, S \\
= & P_1^2(7,Pred(7)) & \text{ by case } \rho(g,h) \; (S(...),...) \\
= & 7 & \text{ by Def. } P_1^2 . \\
\end{array}</math>

===Truncated subtraction===

The limited subtraction function (also called "[[monus]]", and denoted "<math>\mathbin{\dot{-}}</math>") is definable from the predecessor function. It satisfies the equations 
:<math>\begin{array}{rcll}
y \mathbin{\dot{-}} 0 & = & y & \text{and} \\
y \mathbin{\dot{-}} S(x) & = & Pred(y \mathbin{\dot{-}} x) & . \\
\end{array}</math>
Since the recursion runs over the second argument, we begin with a primitive recursive definition of the reversed subtraction, <math>RSub(y,x) = x \mathbin{\dot{-}} y</math>. Its recursion then runs over the first argument, so its primitive recursive definition can be obtained, similar to addition, as <math>RSub = \rho(P_1^1, Pred \circ P_2^3)</math>. To get rid of the reversed argument order, then define <math>Sub = RSub \circ (P_2^2,P_1^2)</math>. As a computation example,
:<math>\begin{array}{lll}
& Sub(8,1) \\
= & (RSub \circ (P_2^2,P_1^2)) \; (8,1) & \text{ by Def. } Sub \\
= & RSub(1,8) & \text{ by Def. } \circ, P_2^2, P_1^2 \\
= & \rho(P_1^1, Pred \circ P_2^3) \; (S(0),8) & \text{ by Def. } RSub, S \\
= & (Pred \circ P_2^3) \; (0,RSub(0,8),8) & \text{ by case } \rho(g,h) \; (S(...),...) \\
= & Pred(RSub(0,8)) & \text{ by Def. } \circ, P_2^3 \\
= & Pred( \; \rho(P_1^1, Pred \circ P_2^3) \; (0,8) \; ) & \text{ by Def. } RSub \\
= & Pred(P_1^1(8)) & \text{ by case } \rho(g,h) \; (0,...) \\
= & Pred(8) & \text{ by Def. } P_1^1 \\
= & 7 & \text{ by property of } Pred . \\
\end{array}</math>

=== Converting predicates to numeric functions ===

In some settings it is natural to consider primitive recursive functions that take as inputs tuples that mix numbers with [[truth value]]s (that is <math>t</math> for true and <math>f</math> for false),{{Citation needed|date=January 2025 |reason=Kleene never considers mixed domains - see p. 226 where he lists the 4 types of functions he considers. Using N to represent the naturals, and T to represent the truth values: (a) N to N (b) N to T (c) T oto T (d) T to N}} or that produce truth values as outputs.{{sfn|Kleene|1974|pp=226–227}} This can be accomplished by identifying the truth values with numbers in any fixed manner.  For example, it is common to identify the truth value <math>t</math> with the number <math>1</math> and the truth value <math>f</math> with the number <math>0</math>.  Once this identification has been made, the [[indicator function|characteristic function]] of a set <math>A</math>, which always returns <math>1</math> or <math>0</math>, can be viewed as a predicate that tells whether a number is in the set <math>A</math>.  Such an identification of predicates with numeric functions will be assumed for the remainder of this article.

=== Predicate "Is zero" ===

As an example for a primitive recursive predicate, the 1-ary function <math>IsZero</math> shall be defined such that <math>IsZero(x) = 1</math> if <math>x = 0</math>, and 
<math>IsZero(x) = 0</math>, otherwise. This can be achieved by defining <math>IsZero = \rho(C_1^0,C_0^2)</math>. Then, <math>IsZero(0) = \rho(C_1^0,C_0^2)(0) = C_1^0() = 1</math> and e.g. <math>IsZero(8) = \rho(C_1^0,C_0^2)(S(7)) = C_0^2(7,IsZero(7)) = 0</math>.

=== Predicate "Less or equal" ===

Using the property <math>x \leq y \iff x \mathbin{\dot{-}} y = 0</math>, the 2-ary function <math>Leq</math> can be defined by <math>Leq = IsZero \circ Sub</math>. Then <math>Leq(x,y) = 1</math> if <math>x \leq y</math>, and <math>Leq(x,y) = 0</math>, otherwise. As a computation example,
:<math>\begin{array}{lll}
& Leq(8,3) \\
= & IsZero(Sub(8,3)) & \text{ by Def. } Leq \\
= & IsZero(5) & \text{ by property of } Sub \\
= & 0  & \text{ by property of } IsZero \\
\end{array}</math>

=== Predicate "Greater or equal" ===

Once a definition of <math>Leq</math> is obtained, the converse predicate can be defined as <math>Geq = Leq \circ (P_2^2,P_1^2)</math>. Then, <math>Geq(x,y) = Leq(y,x)</math> is true (more precisely: has value 1) if, and only if, <math>x \geq y</math>.

=== If-then-else ===

The 3-ary if-then-else operator known from programming languages can be defined by <math>\textit{If} = \rho(P_2^2,P_3^4)</math>. Then, for arbitrary <math>x</math>,
:<math>\begin{array}{lll}
& \textit{If}(S(x),y,z) \\
= & \rho(P_2^2,P_3^4) \; (S(x),y,z) & \text{ by Def. } \textit{If} \\
= & P_3^4(x,\textit{If}(x,y,z),y,z) & \text{ by case } \rho(S(...),...) \\
= & y & \text{ by Def. } P_3^4 \\
\end{array}</math>
and 
:<math>\begin{array}{lll}
& \textit{If}(0,y,z) \\
= & \rho(P_2^2,P_3^4) \; (0,y,z) & \text{ by Def. } \textit{If} \\
= & P_2^2(y,z) & \text{ by case } \rho(0,...) \\
= & z & \text{ by Def. } P_2^2 . \\
\end{array}</math>.
That is, <math>\textit{If}(x,y,z)</math> returns the then-part, <math>y</math>, if the if-part, <math>x</math>, is true, and the else-part, <math>z</math>, otherwise.

=== Junctors ===

Based on the <math>\textit{If}</math> function, it is easy to define logical junctors. For example, defining <math>And = \textit{If} \circ (P_1^2,P_2^2,C_0^2)</math>, one obtains <math>And(x,y) = \textit{If}(x,y,0)</math>, that is, <math>And(x,y)</math> is true [[if, and only if]], both <math>x</math> and <math>y</math> are true ([[logical conjunction]] of <math>x</math> and <math>y</math>).

Similarly, <math>Or = \textit{If} \circ (P_1^2,C_1^2,P_2^2)</math> and <math>Not = \textit{If} \circ (P_1^1,C_0^1,C_1^1)</math> lead to appropriate definitions of [[disjunction]] and [[negation]]: <math>Or(x,y) = \textit{If}(x,1,y)</math> and <math>Not(x) = \textit{If}(x,0,1)</math>.

=== Equality predicate ===

Using the above functions <math>Leq</math>, <math>Geq</math> and <math>And</math>, the definition <math>Eq = And \circ (Leq, Geq)</math> implements the equality predicate. In fact, <math>Eq(x,y) = And( Leq(x,y) , Geq(x,y) )</math> is true if, and only if, <math>x</math> equals <math>y</math>.

Similarly, the definition <math>Lt = Not \circ Geq</math> implements the predicate "less-than", and <math>Gt = Not \circ Leq</math> implements "greater-than".

=== Other operations on natural numbers ===

[[Exponentiation]] and [[primality test]]ing are primitive recursive. Given primitive recursive functions <math>e</math>, <math>f</math>, <math>g</math>, and <math>h</math>, a function that returns the value of <math>g</math> when <math>e \leq f</math> and the value of <math>h</math> otherwise is primitive recursive.

=== Operations on integers and rational numbers ===

By using [[Gödel numbering]]s, the primitive recursive functions can be extended to operate on other objects such as integers and [[rational number]]s.  If integers are encoded by Gödel numbers in a standard way, the arithmetic operations including addition, subtraction, and multiplication are all primitive recursive.  Similarly, if the rationals are represented by Gödel numbers then the [[Field (mathematics)|field]] operations are all primitive recursive.

=== Some common primitive recursive functions ===
The following examples and definitions are from {{harvnb|Kleene|1974|pp=222–231}}. Many appear with proofs. Most also appear with similar names, either as proofs or as examples, in {{harvnb|Boolos|Burgess|Jeffrey|2002|pp=63–70}} they add the logarithm lo(x, y) or lg(x, y) depending on the exact derivation.

In the following the mark " ' ", e.g. a', is the primitive mark meaning "the successor of", usually thought of as " +1", e.g. a +1 =<sub>def</sub> a'. The functions 16–20 and #G are of particular interest with respect to converting primitive recursive predicates to, and extracting them from, their "arithmetical" form expressed as [[Gödel number]]s.

:# Addition: a+b
:# Multiplication: a×b
:# Exponentiation: a<sup>b</sup>
:# Factorial a! : 0! = 1, a'! = a!×a'
:# pred(a): (Predecessor or decrement): If a > 0 then a−1 else 0
:# Proper subtraction a ∸ b: If a ≥ b then a−b else 0
:# Minimum(a<sub>1</sub>, ... a<sub>n</sub>)
:# Maximum(a<sub>1</sub>, ... a<sub>n</sub>)
:# Absolute difference: | a−b | =<sub>def</sub> (a ∸ b) + (b ∸ a)
:# ~sg(a): NOT[signum(a)]: If a=0 then 1 else 0
:# sg(a): signum(a): If a=0 then 0 else 1
:# a | b: (a divides b): If b=k×a for some k then 0 else 1
:# Remainder(a, b): the leftover if b does not divide a "evenly".  Also called MOD(a, b)
:# a = b: sg | a − b |  (Kleene's convention was to represent ''true'' by 0 and ''false'' by 1; presently, especially in computers, the most common convention is the reverse, namely to represent ''true'' by 1 and ''false'' by 0, which amounts to changing sg into ~sg here and in the next item)
:# a < b: sg( a' ∸ b )
:# Pr(a): a is a prime number Pr(a) =<sub>def</sub>  a>1 & NOT(Exists c)<sub>1<c<a</sub> [ c|a ]
:# p<sub>i</sub>: the i+1th prime number
:# (a)<sub>i</sub>: exponent of p<sub>i</sub> in a: the unique x such that p<sub>i</sub><sup>x</sup>|a & NOT(p<sub>i</sub><sup>x'</sup>|a)
:# lh(a): the "length" or number of non-vanishing exponents in a
:# lo(a, b): (logarithm of a to base b): If a, b > 1 then the greatest x such that b<sup>x</sup> | a else 0

: ''In the following, the abbreviation '''x''' =<sub>def</sub>  x<sub>1</sub>, ... x<sub>n</sub>; subscripts may be applied if the meaning requires.''

* #A:  A function φ definable explicitly from functions Ψ and constants q<sub>1</sub>, ... q<sub>n</sub> is primitive recursive in Ψ.
* #B:  The finite sum Σ<sub>y<z</sub> ψ('''x''', y) and product Π<sub>y<z</sub>ψ('''x''', y) are primitive recursive in ψ.
* #C:  A ''predicate'' P obtained by substituting functions χ<sub>1</sub>,..., χ<sub>m</sub> for the respective variables of a predicate Q is primitive recursive in χ<sub>1</sub>,..., χ<sub>m</sub>, Q.
* #D:  The following ''predicates'' are primitive recursive in Q and R:
::* NOT_Q('''x''') .
::* Q OR R: Q('''x''') V R('''x'''),
::* Q AND R: Q('''x''') & R('''x'''),
::* Q IMPLIES R: Q('''x''') → R('''x''')
::* Q is equivalent to R: Q('''x''') ≡ R('''x''')
* #E:  The following ''predicates'' are primitive recursive in the ''predicate'' R:
::* (Ey)<sub>y<z</sub> R('''x''', y) where (Ey)<sub>y<z</sub> denotes "there exists at least one y that is less than z such that"
::* (y)<sub>y<z</sub> R('''x''', y) where (y)<sub>y<z</sub> denotes "for all y less than z it is true that"
::* μy<sub>y<z</sub> R('''x''', y).  The operator μy<sub>y<z</sub> R('''x''', y) is a ''bounded'' form of the so-called minimization- or [[mu-operator]]: Defined as "the least value of y less than z such that R('''x''', y) is true; or z if there is no such value."
* #F:  Definition by cases: The function defined thus, where Q<sub>1</sub>, ..., Q<sub>m</sub> are mutually exclusive ''predicates'' (or "ψ('''x''') shall have the value given by the first clause that applies), is primitive recursive in φ<sub>1</sub>, ..., Q<sub>1</sub>, ... Q<sub>m</sub>:
::  φ('''x''') =
::* φ<sub>1</sub>('''x''') if Q<sub>1</sub>('''x''') is true,
::* .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .
::* φ<sub>m</sub>('''x''') if Q<sub>m</sub>('''x''') is true
::* φ<sub>m+1</sub>('''x''') otherwise
* #G: If φ satisfies the equation:
::  φ(y,'''x''') = χ(y, COURSE-φ(y; x<sub>2</sub>, ... x<sub>n</sub> ), x<sub>2</sub>, ... x<sub>n</sub> then φ is primitive recursive in χ. The value COURSE-φ(y; '''x'''<sub>2 to n</sub> ) of the course-of-values function encodes the sequence of values φ(0,'''x'''<sub>2 to n</sub>), ..., φ(y-1,'''x'''<sub>2 to n</sub>) of the original function.

== Relationship to recursive functions ==

The broader class of [[partial recursive function]]s is defined by introducing an [[mu operator|unbounded search operator]].  The use of this operator may result in a [[partial function]], that is, a relation with ''at most'' one value for each argument, but does not necessarily have ''any'' value for any argument (see [[Domain of a function|domain]]).  An equivalent definition states that a partial recursive function is one that can be computed by a [[Turing machine]].  A total recursive function is a partial recursive function that is defined for every input.

Every primitive recursive function is total recursive, but not all total recursive functions are primitive recursive. The [[Ackermann function]] ''A''(''m'',''n'') is a well-known example of a total recursive function (in fact, provable total), that is not primitive recursive. There is a characterization of the primitive recursive functions as a subset of the total recursive functions using the Ackermann function.  This characterization states that a function is primitive recursive [[if and only if]] there is a natural number ''m'' such that the function can be computed by a Turing [[machine that always halts]] within A(''m'',''n'') or fewer steps, where ''n'' is the sum of the arguments of the primitive recursive function.<ref>This follows from the facts that the functions of this form are the most quickly growing primitive recursive functions, and that a function is primitive recursive if and only if its time complexity is bounded by a primitive recursive function. For the former, see {{citation|title=An Introduction to Formal Languages and Automata|first=Peter|last=Linz|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Publishers|year=2011|isbn=9781449615529|page=332|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hsxDiWvVdBcC&pg=PA332}}. For the latter, see {{citation|title=The Nature of Computation|first1=Cristopher|last1=Moore|author1-link=Cristopher Moore|first2=Stephan|last2=Mertens|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2011|isbn=9780191620805|page=287|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jnGKbpMV8xoC&pg=PA287}}</ref>

An important property of the primitive recursive functions is that they are a [[recursively enumerable]] subset of the set of all [[total recursive function]]s (which is not itself recursively enumerable). This means that there is a single computable function ''f''(''m'',''n'') that enumerates the primitive recursive functions, namely:
* For every primitive recursive function ''g'', there is an ''m'' such that ''g''(''n'') = ''f''(''m'',''n'') for all ''n'', and
* For every ''m'', the function ''h''(''n'') = ''f''(''m'',''n'') is primitive recursive.
''f'' can be explicitly constructed by iteratively repeating all possible ways of creating primitive recursive functions. Thus, it is provably total. One can use a [[diagonal lemma|diagonalization]] argument to show that ''f'' is not recursive primitive in itself: had it been such, so would be ''h''(''n'') = ''f''(''n'',''n'')+1. But if this equals some primitive recursive function, there is an ''m'' such that ''h''(''n'') = ''f''(''m'',''n'') for all ''n'', and then ''h''(''m'') = ''f''(''m'',''m''), leading to contradiction.

However, the set of primitive recursive functions is not the ''largest'' recursively enumerable subset of the set of all total recursive functions. For example, the set of provably total functions (in Peano arithmetic) is also recursively enumerable, as one can enumerate all the proofs of the theory. While all primitive recursive functions are provably total, the converse is not true.

== Limitations ==<!-- This section is linked from [[Primitive recursive function]] -->

Primitive recursive functions tend to correspond very closely with our intuition of what a computable function must be. Certainly the initial functions are intuitively computable (in their very simplicity), and the two operations by which one can create new primitive recursive functions are also very straightforward. However, the set of primitive recursive functions does not include every possible total computable function—this can be seen with a variant of [[Cantor's diagonal argument]]. This argument provides a total computable function that is not primitive recursive. A sketch of the proof is as follows:

{{block indent|The primitive recursive functions of one argument (i.e., unary functions) can be [[Recursively enumerable set|computably enumerated]]. This enumeration uses the definitions of the primitive recursive functions (which are essentially just expressions with the composition and primitive recursion operations as operators and the basic primitive recursive functions as atoms), and can be assumed to contain every definition once, even though a same ''function'' will occur many times on the list (since many definitions define the same function; indeed simply composing by the [[identity function]] generates infinitely many definitions of any one primitive recursive function). This means that the <math>n</math>-th definition of a primitive recursive function in this enumeration can be effectively determined from <math>n</math>. Indeed if one uses some [[Gödel numbering]] to encode definitions as numbers, then this <math>n</math>-th definition in the list is computed by a primitive recursive function of <math>n</math>. Let <math>f_n</math> denote the unary primitive recursive function given by this definition.

Now define the "evaluator function" <math>ev</math> with two arguments, by <math>ev(i,j) = f_i(j)</math>. Clearly <math>ev</math> is total and computable, since one can effectively determine the definition of <math>f_i</math>, and being a primitive recursive function <math>f_i</math> is itself total and computable, so <math>f_i(j)</math> is always defined and effectively computable. However a diagonal argument will show that the function <math>ev</math> of two arguments is not primitive recursive.

Suppose <math>ev</math> were primitive recursive, then the unary function <math>g</math> defined by <math>g(i) = S(ev(i,i))</math> would also be primitive recursive, as it is defined by composition from the successor function and <math>ev</math>. But then <math>g</math> occurs in the enumeration, so there is some number <math>n</math> such that <math>g = f_n</math>. But now <math>g(n) = S(ev(n,n)) = S(f_n(n)) = S(g(n))</math> gives a contradiction.}}

This argument can be applied to any class of computable (total) functions that can be enumerated in this way, as explained in the article [[Machine that always halts]]. Note however that the ''partial'' computable functions (those that need not be defined for all arguments) can be explicitly enumerated, for instance by enumerating Turing machine encodings.

Other examples of total recursive but not primitive recursive functions are known:
*The function that takes ''m'' to [[Ackermann function|Ackermann]](''m'',''m'') is a unary total recursive function that is not primitive recursive.
*The [[Paris–Harrington theorem]] involves a total recursive function that is not primitive recursive.
*The [[Sudan function]]
*The [[Goodstein function]]

==Variants==
===Constant functions===
Instead of <math>C_n^k</math>,
alternative definitions use just one 0-ary ''zero function'' <math>C_0^0</math> as a primitive function that always returns zero, and build the constant functions from the zero function, the successor function and the composition operator.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

=== Iterative functions ===
Robinson{{sfn|Robinson|1947}} considered various restrictions of the recursion rule. One is the so-called ''iteration rule'' where the function ''h'' does not have access to the parameters ''x<sub>i</sub>'' (in this case, we may assume without loss of generality that the function ''g'' is just the identity, as the general case can be obtained by substitution):
:<math>\begin{align} f(0,x) & = x,\\
 f(S(y),x) & = h(y,f(y,x)). \end{align}</math>
He proved that the class of all primitive recursive functions can still be obtained in this way.

=== Pure recursion ===
Another restriction considered by Robinson{{sfn|Robinson|1947}} is ''pure recursion'', where ''h'' does not have access to the induction variable ''y'':
:<math>\begin{align} f(0,x_1,\ldots,x_k) & = g(x_1,\ldots,x_k),\\
 f(S(y),x_1,\ldots,x_k) & = h(f(y,x_1,\ldots,x_k),x_1,\ldots,x_k). \end{align}</math>
Gladstone{{sfn|Gladstone|1967}} proved that this rule is enough to generate all primitive recursive functions. Gladstone{{sfn|Gladstone|1971}} improved this so that even the combination of these two restrictions, i.e., the ''pure iteration'' rule below, is enough:
:<math>\begin{align} f(0,x) & = x,\\
 f(S(y),x) & =  h(f(y,x)). \end{align}</math>
Further improvements are possible: Severin{{sfn|Severin|2008}} prove that even the pure iteration rule ''without parameters'', namely
:<math>\begin{align} f(0) & = 0,\\
 f(S(y)) & =  h(f(y)), \end{align}</math>
suffices to generate all [[unary operation|unary]] primitive recursive functions if we extend the set of initial functions with truncated subtraction ''x ∸ y''. We get ''all'' primitive recursive functions if we additionally include + as an initial function.

=== Additional primitive recursive forms ===

Some additional forms of recursion also define functions that are in fact
primitive recursive.  Definitions in these forms may be easier to find or
more natural for reading or writing. [[Course-of-values recursion]] defines primitive recursive functions. Some forms of [[mutual recursion]] also define primitive recursive functions.

The functions that can be programmed in the [[LOOP (programming language)|LOOP programming language]] are exactly the primitive recursive functions. This gives a different characterization of the power of these functions. The main limitation of the LOOP language, compared to a [[Turing-complete language]], is that in the LOOP language the number of times that each loop will run is specified before the loop begins to run.

=== Computer language definition ===

An example of a primitive recursive programming language is one that contains basic arithmetic operators (e.g. + and −, or ADD and SUBTRACT), conditionals and comparison (IF-THEN, EQUALS, LESS-THAN), and bounded loops, such as the basic [[for loop]], where there is a known or calculable upper bound to all loops (FOR i FROM 1 TO n, with neither i nor n modifiable by the loop body). No control structures of greater generality, such as [[while loop]]s or IF-THEN plus [[GOTO]], are admitted in a primitive recursive language. 

The [[LOOP (programming language)|LOOP language]], introduced in a 1967 paper by [[Albert R. Meyer]] and [[Dennis M. Ritchie]],<ref>{{citation
| doi=10.1145/800196.806014
| contribution=The complexity of loop programs
| last1=Meyer
| first1=Albert R.
| authorlink1=Albert R. Meyer
| last2=Ritchie
| first2=Dennis M.
| authorlink2=Dennis Ritchie
| title=ACM '67: Proceedings of the 1967 22nd national conference
| year=1967
| pages=465–469
| doi-access=free
}}</ref> is such a language. Its computing power coincides with the primitive recursive functions. A variant of the LOOP language is [[Douglas Hofstadter]]'s [[BlooP and FlooP|BlooP]] in ''[[Gödel, Escher, Bach]]''. Adding unbounded loops (WHILE, GOTO) makes the language [[general recursive function|general recursive]] and [[Turing completeness|Turing-complete]], as are all real-world computer programming languages.

The definition of primitive recursive functions implies that their computation halts on every input (after a finite number of steps). On the other hand, the [[halting problem]] is [[undecidable problem|undecidable]] for general recursive functions.

== Finitism and consistency results ==

The primitive recursive functions are closely related to mathematical [[finitism]], and are used in several contexts in mathematical logic where a particularly constructive system is desired. [[Primitive recursive arithmetic]] (PRA), a formal axiom system for the natural numbers and the primitive recursive functions on them, is often used for this purpose.

PRA is much weaker than [[Peano arithmetic]], which is not a finitistic system. Nevertheless, many results in [[number theory]] and in [[proof theory]] can be proved in PRA. For example, [[Gödel's incompleteness theorem]] can be formalized into PRA, giving the following theorem:
:If ''T'' is a theory of arithmetic satisfying certain hypotheses, with Gödel sentence ''G''<sub>''T''</sub>, then PRA proves the implication Con(''T'')→''G''<sub>''T''</sub>.
Similarly, many of the syntactic results in proof theory can be proved in PRA, which implies that there are primitive recursive functions that carry out the corresponding syntactic transformations of proofs.

In proof theory and [[set theory]], there is an interest in finitistic [[consistency proof]]s, that is, consistency proofs that themselves are finitistically acceptable. Such a proof establishes that the consistency of a theory ''T'' implies the consistency of a theory ''S'' by producing a primitive recursive function that can transform any proof of an inconsistency from ''S'' into a proof of an inconsistency from ''T''.  One sufficient condition for a consistency proof to be finitistic is the ability to formalize it in PRA. For example, many consistency results in set theory that are obtained by [[forcing (mathematics)|forcing]] can be recast as syntactic proofs that can be formalized in PRA.

== History ==
[[Recursive definition]]s had been used more or less formally in mathematics before, but the construction of primitive recursion is traced back to [[Richard Dedekind]]'s theorem 126 of his ''Was sind und was sollen die Zahlen?'' (1888). This work was the first to give a proof that a certain recursive construction defines a unique function.<ref name="Smith2013">{{citation|author=Peter Smith|title=An Introduction to Gödel's Theorems|year=2013|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-02284-3|pages=98–99|edition=2nd |url=https://www.logicmatters.net/igt/}}</ref><ref name="Tourlakis2003">{{citation|author=George Tourlakis|title=Lectures in Logic and Set Theory: Volume 1, Mathematical Logic|year=2003|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-139-43942-8|page=129}}</ref><ref name="Downey2014">{{citation|editor=Rod Downey|title=Turing's Legacy: Developments from Turing's Ideas in Logic|year=2014|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-04348-0|page=474}}</ref>

[[Primitive recursive arithmetic]]  was first proposed by [[Thoralf Skolem]]<ref>[[Thoralf Skolem]] (1923) "The foundations of elementary arithmetic" in [[Jean van Heijenoort]], translator and ed. (1967) ''From Frege to Gödel: A Source Book in Mathematical Logic, 1879-1931''. Harvard Univ. Press: 302-33.</ref> in 1923.

The current terminology was coined by [[Rózsa Péter]] (1934) after [[Wilhelm Ackermann|Ackermann]] had proved in 1928 that the function which today is named after him was not primitive recursive, an event which prompted the need to rename what until then were simply called recursive functions.<ref name="Tourlakis2003"/><ref name="Downey2014"/>

==See also==
* [[Grzegorczyk hierarchy]]
* [[Recursion (computer science)]]
* [[Primitive recursive functional]]
* [[Double recursion]]
* [[Primitive recursive set function]]
* [[Primitive recursive ordinal function]]
* [[Tail call]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== References ==

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}}

*{{cite journal
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}}

*{{cite journal
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}}

*{{cite journal
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}}

*{{cite journal
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*{{cite book
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*{{cite book
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*{{cite web
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}}

*{{cite book
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}}

*{{cite journal
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}}

*{{cite journal
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*{{cite book
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*{{cite journal
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}}

{{Mathematical logic}}

[[Category:Computability theory]]
[[Category:Theory of computation]]
[[Category:Functions and mappings]]
[[Category:Recursion]]