How does in-order traversal in Binary search tree works (recursion)
Consider indorder as a command in military. Let the binary tree be the hierarchy among the soldiers.

The general shouts "inorder!" and that means, when a subordinate receives the order, he tells it to his "left" subordinates. If he has no subordinates on the left side, then he yells out his name, and only then he commands his right subordinate to execute the order.


  Inorder! command means "tell your first subordinate, do it yourself, and then tell your right subordinate. Afther you are
  finished, report to your superior."


The general is the root of the binary tree.
He shouts out "inorder!"

That means his left subordinate gets the order, and shouts out "inorder!" himself. This process goes on until the order reaches to a soldier who has no left subordinate. Then, he yells out his name and gives the order to his right subordinate.  

After all his right subordinates are done, he reports back to his immediate superior. The superior, like him, yells out his name and gives the order to his right subordinate.

When all the left side is done, the general (root of the binary tree) yells out his name and gives the order to his right side.

Now, consider this tree
(taken from https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/tree-traversals-inorder-preorder-and-postorder/):



The general is 1. He shouts "inorder!"

2 recieves the order, and he shouts "inorder!"

4 receives the order. He has no left child, and thus shouts his name: 4

He has also no right child, and thus reports to 2.

Left side of 2 is done, and this 2 shouts his name: 2, and then gives the order to the right side.

This process goes on, until the root is notified a second time.