pre_text: 5. Balance Sheet Components Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue relates to performance obligations for which payments have been received by the customer prior to revenue recognition. Deferred revenue primarily consists of deferred software, or amounts allocated to mobile dashboard and on-line apps and unspecified upgrade rights. Deferred revenue also includes deferred subscription-based services. The deferred software and deferred subscription-based service performance obligations are anticipated to be recognized over the useful life or service periods of one to eighteen months. Changes in the total short-term and long-term deferred revenue balance were as follows (in thousands):
table: December 31,
table: 2019 2018 2017
table: Beginning balances $36,836 $42,432 $49,904
table: Deferral of revenue 45,040 40,003 46,193
table: Recognition of deferred revenue (41,034) (45,599) (53,665)
table: Ending balances $40,842 $36,836 $42,432
question: Analyse this data from a financial earnings document. What is the difference in the ending balances between 2018 and 2019?