The Recursion Theorem

The Recursion Theorem is a fundamental concept in computer science stating that a program can be designed to include its own code within itself. This means a program can effectively "know" and use its own instructions during execution, enabling self-referential behavior. It allows for things like writing programs that generate or modify other programs, or even themselves, providing a basis for advanced features like compilers and interpreters. In essence, it guarantees that for any computable process, there exists a way for a program to access and incorporate its own structure during operation.