Recursive descent parsing is a top-down parsing technique that attempts to construct a parse tree for an input starting from the root node and creating child nodes in a preorder traversal. It involves backtracking if the parser reaches a point in the input where it cannot determine the next step. Predictive parsers avoid backtracking by eliminating left recursion and left factoring from the grammar upfront. Transition diagrams can be created for predictive parsers, with states connected by edges labeled with grammar symbols to show the parsing steps. An example transition diagram is provided for a grammar including productions for E, E', T, T', and F.