Please explain this recursive code output

Question

Why does calling the recursive function inside println output return values from each iteration of the recursive function and not just the final return value 5?

https://code.sololearn.com/c06eZE6t3ugg/?ref=app

Answer 1

rec(2,5) = 2+(rec(3, 5))
=2+(3+rec(4, 5))
=2+(3+(4+"5"))
=2345

if you want to output only 5, change the code :

public class Program
{

public static String samplerecursive(int x, int y){

if(x==y)
return ""+y;

return samplerecursive(x+1,y);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(samplerecursive(2,5));
}
}