Kleene's recursion theorem

proper noun

Either of are a pair of fundamental results about the application of computable functions to their own descriptions. They can be applied to construct fixed points of certain operations on computable functions, to generate quines, and to construct functions defined via recursive definitions.

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Meanings

proper nounKleene's recursion theorem (plural Kleene's recursion theorems)

plural Kleene's recursion theorems

  1. computingEither of are a pair of fundamental results about the application of computable functions to their own descriptions. They can be applied to construct fixed points of certain operations on computable functions, to generate quines, and to construct functions defined via recursive definitions.

Origin

Named after mathematician Stephen Cole Kleene.

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Cite this entry
APA

Kleene's recursion theorem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Kleene's%20recursion%20theorem

MLA

“Kleene's recursion theorem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Kleene's%20recursion%20theorem. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Kleene's recursion theorem,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Kleene's%20recursion%20theorem.

Source: Kleene's recursion theorem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.