Recursive queries in SQL, enabled by Common Table Expressions (CTEs), allow working with hierarchical or recursive data structures like employee-manager relationships, family trees, or file directories.
A Common Table Expression (CTE) is a temporary result set defined within a WITH clause that improves query readability and is useful for recursive operations.
Common situations to use CTEs include breaking down complex queries into manageable parts, reusability within the same query for improved performance, creating temporary results without additional tables, and enhancing query readability.
CTEs simplify SQL query writing, especially for recursive operations, hierarchical data, and complex logic breakdown, offering powerful features for data-related insights.