RecursionError: maximum recursion depth exceeded
A function called itself (directly or indirectly) more than ~1000 times.
Exact message you may see
maximum recursion depth exceeded
Seen on:
Python
Meaning
Python’s default recursion limit is 1000. Missing base cases, properties that call themselves, and __getattr__/__setattr__ loops are typical.
Common causes
- Recursive function without a proper base case
- @property returning self.prop instead of self._prop
- __getattr__ referencing a missing attribute
- Deep recursion on large data
⚡ Quick fix
- Check the repeating frames in the traceback
- Fix the base case
- Store property values in self._name
- Use iteration for deep structures
Detailed fix by platform
Python
- Raising sys.setrecursionlimit() only helps legitimate deep recursion and can crash the interpreter
How to diagnose
- Frames — Which function repeats?
- Base case — Is it reachable?
🔧 Still not fixed?
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Last updated 13 Oct 2026