The effect of using recursive functions in a program is generally to use:

Using recursive functions in programming indeed tends to lead to less code and more memory usage. The primary advantage of recursion is that it can simplify the code structure, enabling developers to express complex problems in a straightforward manner. Recursive functions often replace complex loops and conditionals with a cleaner, more readable format. This reduction in the amount of code helps in making the program easier to understand and maintain.

However, recursion comes with an inherent cost in terms of memory. Each recursive call generates a new stack frame that includes the function's local variables and return address. This can lead to increased memory usage, especially for deep recursive calls, as each call must remain in memory until the base case is reached and all preceding calls can be resolved. Consequently, while the number of lines of code may be reduced, the overall memory footprint can increase significantly compared to an equivalent iterative solution.

Understanding these trade-offs is crucial in software design, as it highlights the balance developers must strike between code clarity and resource efficiency when using recursion in their programs.