The MAX_RECURSIONS parameter limits the number of iterations in a recursive CTE to prevent infinite loops.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. Only for accounts
• D. Not defined

Answer: (B)

Recursive CTEs can loop forever if there are cycles in the data, so a limit is included to keep queries from running indefinitely. The MAX_RECURSIONS setting specifies how many times the recursive step may execute for a given query. After reaching that limit, the engine stops producing new rows, ensuring the query terminates. It also stops earlier if no new rows are produced in an iteration, which means the recursion has stabilized. This is why the statement is true: it describes a guard that prevents infinite loops in recursive queries. The parameter can be set per session or per query, and it isn’t tied to accounts or left undefined.