Classification and Regression – both techniques are part of supervised machine learning. Principally, both of them have one common goal, i.e., to make predictions or take a decision by using past data as underlined foundations. So that can be a weakness as well, if the past has not been created.

Machine Learning Algorithms

Think of classification as a party host who sorts guests: “You’re a dancer, you go here; you’re a chatterbox, over there!” It’s all about labels. Regression is like that friend predicting hangover levels: “Five drinks? Expect a headache rating of 7 tomorrow!” It deals with quantities. Generative algorithms are the multitasking wizards who can not only sort you but also create whole scenarios: “Blue shirt and dancing? Let’s create a blue-themed dance party!” So, classification is sorting, regression is connecting, and generative algorithms are the life of the party!

As per AILabPage – Classification sorts data into meaningful categories, Regression predicts numerical outcomes, and Generative algorithms create new data based on learned patterns. These algorithms form the backbone of AI, driving innovation across various fields.


Here are a few relevant posts, and you can read them in any order.


Machine Learning – Introduction

AILabPage defines machine learning as “A focal point where business, data and experience meet emerging technology and decide to work together“. ML instructs an algorithm to learn for itself by analyzing data. Algorithms here learn a mapping of input to output, detection of patterns, or reward.

Machine Learning Basics #AILabPage

The more data it processes, the smarter the algorithm gets. Thanks to statistics, machine learning became very famous in the 1990s. Machine Learning is about the use and development of fancy learning algorithms. The intersection of computer science and statistics gave birth to probabilistic approaches in AI. You can follow the link below for more details on Machine Learning.

In other words, Machine learning algorithms “learn” from the observations. When exposed to more observations, the algorithm improves its predictive performance. Although ML is magnificent implementing this bundle pack of ML for practical use in businesses is still a hurdle for many.

Machine Learning Algorithms

ML’s current excellence can be explained by several reasons, such as those provided below although not exclusively.

  • The explosion of big data
  • Hunger for new business and revenue streams in this business shrinking times
  • Advancements in machine learning algorithms
  • Development of extremely powerful machine with high capacity & faster computing ability
  • Storage capacity
Machine Learning #AILabPage

As of today, sadly, most machine learning methods are based on supervised learning. Which means we still have a long way to go. In the Fintech domain, we say “machine learning” is the future (actually, that future is now) of “e-commerce,” and “data scientists” will work as batmen for “fintech” and “puretech.” Today’s machines are learning and performing tasks that were only done by humans in the past, like making better judgments and decisions, playing games, etc.

Classification and Regression – AILabPage’s Outlook

So it is about “Supervised Machine Learning“, A proud supervisor who leads classification and regression algorithms, where they are trained using labeled data to make predictions or decisions. Their shared primary objective is to utilize historical data as the basis for learning and inference.

Classification and Regression #AILabPage

However, a significant distinction exists between the two techniques: while classification produces predictive output in the form of labels (assigning data points to specific categories or classes), regression generates output in the form of quantities, aiming to establish relationships between variables and predict numerical values.

  • Classification: the goal is to assign input data points to predefined categories or classes. The predictive output generated by this technique is in the form of discrete labels, indicating which class each data point belongs to. For instance, it can be used to classify emails as spam or non-spam or to identify different species of plants based on their features.
  • Regression aims to predict continuous numerical values. It establishes relationships between input variables and corresponding output values, allowing the model to make predictions based on new data. For example, regression can be used to predict housing prices based on factors such as area, number of rooms, and location.
Classification vs Regression Algorithms

Additionally, generative algorithms, which can create new data similar to the training data, can also function as classifiers by identifying patterns and features in the input data, going beyond mere categorization. Consequently, classification can be likened to a sorting technique, organizing data into distinct classes, while regression can be seen as a method to connect and predict continuous values based on patterns observed in the training data.


Machine Learning (ML): Basic Terminologies in Context


Understanding Classification – Class Of An Object

Today, let’s dive into something super exciting: Classification. Picture this: you have a bunch of data and you need to sort it into different categories, just like organizing your wardrobe. Here is the sequence flow diagram for a comprehensive sequence flow for classification in machine learning. This flow of a classification process in machine learning, includes data preparation, model training, evaluation, and prediction. It helps in understanding and communicating the steps involved in developing a classification model.

Classification and Regression

That’s what classification is all about! It’s a way of teaching our smart algorithms to recognize patterns and sort data into neat little groups. Predictions are made by classifying output into different categories; in other words, it’s a process of predicting the class of given data points. Classification outputs fall into discrete categories; hence, the algorithms used here are for desired outputs as discrete labels, targets, or categories.

Classification and Regression #AILabPage

Lets see a code below for classification, I have used the k-Nearest Neighbors algorithm in the below code to classify the Iris dataset into three classes (setosa, versicolor, and virginica). Then I calculated the accuracy of the classifier to evaluate its performance.

#Importing necessary libraries

from sklearn.datasets import load_iris
from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split
from sklearn.neighbors import KNeighborsClassifier
from sklearn.metrics import accuracy_score

#Load the Iris dataset (a commonly used dataset for classification)

data = load_iris()
X, y = data.data, data.target

#Split the data into training and testing sets

X_train, X_test, y_train, y_test = train_test_split(X, y, test_size=0.2, random_state=42)

#Create a k-Nearest Neighbors classifier

classifier = KNeighborsClassifier(n_neighbors=3)

#Train the classifier on the training data

classifier.fit(X_train, y_train)

#Make predictions on the test data

predictions = classifier.predict(X_test)

#Calculate the accuracy of the classifier

accuracy = accuracy_score(y_test, predictions)
print(f”Accuracy: {accuracy}”)

Classification makes business life easy as outputs or predictions are sets of possible finite values, i.e., outcomes. Whether an email is spam or not can be identified as a classification problem since it’s a binary classification with only two classes. Some of the useful examples in this category are

  • Determining an email is spam or not
  • The outcome can be a binary classification / logistic regression
  • Something is harmful or not
  • Rainfall tomorrow or no rainfall.
Classification and Regression

Segmenting business customers, audio and video classification, and text processing for sentiment analytics are examples of multiple labels as output. Besides logistic regression, the most famous algorithms in the method are K-nearest neighbours and decision trees.

Types of Classification

Now, just like we have different ways to organize our clothes (by color, type, or season), there are different types of classification too. Let’s explore these types and see how they make our machine learning models even smarter.

Type of ClassificationDescriptionExamples
Binary ClassificationFirst up, we have Binary Classification. Imagine you’re sorting laundry into just two piles: whites and colors. It’s that simple! You only have two categories to choose from.Spam vs. Non-Spam, Fraud vs. Non-Fraud
Multi-class ClassificationNext, let’s talk about Multi-class Classification. This is like sorting clothes into more categories: shirts, pants, socks, and more. Here, we’ve got more than just two options!Fruit classification (Apple, Banana, Orange, etc.), Handwritten digit recognition (0-9)
Multi-label ClassificationAnd here’s the superstar: Multi-label Classification! Sometimes, things can belong to multiple categories at once. Think of a cozy sweater that’s both warm and stylish.Music genres (Rock, Jazz, Classical), Image tagging (Dog, Cat, Nature)
Imbalanced ClassificationThis one’s a bit tricky. In imbalanced classification, one class is way more common than the other. It’s like having a lot of laundry, but most of it’s just white shirts, and very few colors!Fraud detection, Disease detection (e.g., rare cancers)
Ordinal ClassificationThis type is like ranking your clothes from favorite to least favorite. The categories have an order to them, but not necessarily a set amount of difference.Rating systems (1-5 stars), Education level (High school, Bachelor’s, Master’s)
Hierarchical ClassificationImagine sorting your clothes based on categories and subcategories. First, you have jackets, and within jackets, you have leather, denim, and more!Animal classification (Mammals → Carnivores → Dogs)
One-vs-Rest (OvR)Here, we train one classifier for each category, treating it as the “positive” one while everything else is “negative.” It’s like picking out one shirt while saying “no” to all the others.Used in multiclass tasks, e.g., recognizing digits 0-9
One-vs-One (OvO)In this case, we train classifiers for every possible pair of categories. It’s like having a mini contest between every two pieces of clothing!Used for certain multiclass classification problems

Classification types are like sorting things into different piles: Binary is like whites vs. colors, Multi-class adds more options, Multi-label allows multiple tags, Imbalanced has uneven piles, Ordinal orders categories, Hierarchical sorts in levels, and One-vs-Rest/One-vs-One are like mini contests.

Understanding Regression: A Numbers Game

Ok, are you ready to unravel another exciting chapter in the world of machine learning? All right, let’s explore Regression. Here is a sequence flow diagram that outlines the general process for regression in machine learning. Starting with a recap of the key steps, with clarity and correctness specific to regression:

Think of it as our smart algorithms playing detective, figuring out the relationship between variables, and making predictions. Whether it’s forecasting the weather or predicting house prices, regression is our go-to tool for all things numerical.

Classification and Regression

The system attempts to predict a value for an input based on past data. Regression outputs are real-valued numbers that exist in a continuous space. It’s a very useful method for predicting continuous outputs. In a regression predictive model, the predictions come out as quantities, so the performance of the model is evaluated at the error margin level, i.e., errors in predictions.

Classification and Regression

Lets see a code below for Regression, In the code below, I have used Linear Regression to predict the housing prices in the AILabPage (Boston) Housing dataset. I have measured the model’s performance using the mean squared error, which quantifies the average squared difference between the predicted and actual housing prices.

#Importing necessary libraries

from sklearn.datasets import load_boston
from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split
from sklearn.linear_model import LinearRegression
from sklearn.metrics import mean_squared_error

Load the Boston Housing dataset (a commonly used dataset for regression)

data = load_boston()
X, y = data.data, data.target

Split the data into training and testing sets

X_train, X_test, y_train, y_test = train_test_split(X, y, test_size=0.2, random_state=42)

Create a Linear Regression model

regressor = LinearRegression()

Train the model on the training data

regressor.fit(X_train, y_train)

Make predictions based on the test data

predictions = regressor.predict(X_test)

Calculate the mean squared error of the model

mse = mean_squared_error(y_test, predictions)
print(f”Mean Squared Error: {mse}”)

One of the most used and underrated algorithms for its simplicity is linear regression. As it is simple to understand and use, it has gained the most popularity. Linear regression is an extremely versatile method that can be used for predicting

  • The temperature of the day or in an hour
  • Likely housing prices in an area
  • Likelihood of customers to churn
  • Revenue per customer.
Classification and Regression

Another good example of a regression problem is when we have time-ordered inputs, also known as time-series data, for forecasting purposes. In simple terms, regression is useful for predicting outputs that are continuous. The predictive model here is a task for approximating a mapping function that maps input to a continuous output variable.

Types of Regression

Just like there are different styles of detective work, there are various types of regression. Each type has its own unique way of solving mysteries and making predictions. Let’s uncover these types together!

Classification and Regression #AILabPage
Type of RegressionDescriptionExamples
Linear RegressionLet’s start simple with Linear Regression. Imagine you’re drawing a straight line to predict how one thing changes as another changes. It’s a straight path!Predicting house prices based on size, Sales prediction based on advertising budget
Multiple RegressionNow, we’ve got Multiple Regression. This is like predicting your total laundry time by considering not just the clothes type, but also the amount of detergent and water temperature.Predicting a car’s price based on age, model, and mileage
Polynomial RegressionThis one’s a bit fancier. Polynomial Regression draws curves instead of lines, predicting outcomes that change in a more complex way. Think of it like adding curves to your laundry timeline.Predicting sales based on time of year, Modeling population growth
Ridge RegressionRidge Regression is like regular linear regression but with a little extra control to prevent it from getting too wild and overfitting the data. It’s a well-behaved model!Stock price prediction with regularization
Lasso RegressionLasso Regression is similar to Ridge but adds a twist: it helps eliminate unnecessary features, just like getting rid of those random socks you don’t need.Predicting marketing effectiveness while simplifying the model
Elastic Net RegressionElastic Net combines Ridge and Lasso, offering the best of both worlds. It’s like using both a detergent and a softener to get the perfect laundry result.When you need to balance feature selection and regularization in predictions
Logistic RegressionLogistic Regression is actually used for classification, but it’s like predicting the odds of something happening. It’s like betting on which team will win based on data!Predicting the likelihood of customer churn or email click rates
Quantile RegressionThis one’s a little different. Instead of predicting the average value, Quantile Regression predicts specific percentiles, giving a fuller picture of the data.Predicting house prices for different income brackets
Support Vector Regression (SVR)SVR uses the concept of Support Vector Machines, finding a line that fits the data while keeping as many points as possible within a margin. It’s like finding the best path that balances the data points.Stock market predictions, Non-linear trend modeling
Neural Network RegressionNeural Network Regression uses artificial neural networks to learn complex relationships between inputs and outputs, often capturing non-linear patterns better than traditional models. Think of it like an advanced brain that learns from data!Predicting stock prices, Forecasting weather patterns, Demand forecasting in retail

Regression types are like different ways of predicting: Linear is simple and straight, Multiple adds more factors, Polynomial curves the prediction, Ridge and Lasso control complexity, Elastic Net balances both, while Neural Network Regression dives deep into complex patterns. SVR handles non-linear data, and Quantile gives specific predictions.

Function Approximation in Classification and Regression

Finding the best function to map input variables to output variables is the main task for any machine learning algorithm.

Regression & Classification

In both cases, i.e., Classification and Regression function approximations, the approximations are different, hence they are two different tasks.

Why function is important; you can read How Machine Learning Algorithms Work to know more details.

After finding the best model with the best algorithm as the underlining foundation, it becomes super simple to get the best mapping function. System resources, time in hand, amount of data, and quality of data are critical parts of the algorithm of choice.

The end goal is to build predictive modelling, which is built on past data, to find answers from new or future data. This is a basic mathematical problem.

Classification vs Regression

Now that we’ve explored both classification and regression, let’s dive into comparing these two fascinating techniques. They’re like two sides of the same coin, each with its own unique superpowers. Ready? As is clear from the above explanations of classification and regression definitions, these two methods are used in supervised learning depending on the input variables mapped to output values or labels.

Regression vs Classification

Example: Imagine there is a need to launch a product by your company, and as head of the product rollout, you want to do some research and analytics work to know whether a product will be successful or not. What is required here?

Key Differences

Classification and regression might seem similar, but they have some key differences. Classification is all about sorting things into categories. Think of it as our smart algorithm playing matchmaker, deciding whether an email is spam or not, or identifying a picture as a cat or a dog.

Regression, on the other hand, is about making predictions based on numerical data. Imagine it as our algorithm putting on a detective hat, predicting house prices or stock values. Classification deals with discrete outcomes (like categories), while regression focuses on continuous outcomes (like numbers). Each has its own charm and utility!

Classification and Regression

Data of similar products running in the market and data of similar products failing and going out of market, including

  • Price charged
  • Marketing budget
  • Competitor price
  • Target customer segmentation, i.e education level, earnings, age, home & work address, any buying habit, etc
  • Market size

There could be several other variables to add to make our predictive model error-free and successful, etc.

FeatureClassificationRegression
DefinitionPredicts categorical labels or classes.Predicts continuous numerical values.
Output TypeDiscrete values (e.g., class labels).Continuous values (e.g., prices, temperatures).
ExamplesSpam detection, image recognition, sentiment analysis, and disease diagnosis.House price prediction, stock price forecasting, and temperature prediction.
Evaluation MetricsAccuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, ROC-AUC.Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), R-squared, and adjusted R-squared.
AlgorithmsLogistic Regression, Decision Trees, SVM, Random Forest, and k-Nearest Neighbors.Linear Regression, Polynomial Regression, Ridge Regression, Lasso Regression, and Support Vector Regression.
Problem TypeSupervised learning for categorization tasks.Supervised learning for estimation tasks.
Data CharacteristicsClasses are predefined and mutually exclusive.Relationships between variables are continuous and may vary in range.
Nature of PredictionPredicts which category an instance belongs to.Predicts a numeric value based on input features.
Training OutputProbability of class membership for each instance.A continuous line of best fit (in the case of linear regression).
Visual RepresentationConfusion matrix, ROC curve, and decision boundaries.Scatter plots, regression lines, and residual plots.
ApplicationsMedical diagnosis, customer segmentation, Spam and fraud detection.Financial forecasting, risk assessment, and resource allocation.
InterpretabilityOften interpretable via class distribution and feature importance.Interpretability varies; coefficients indicate influence of predictors.
Overfitting RiskCan overfit when classes are highly imbalanced.Can overfit if too many predictors are included or the model is too complex.

The table above shows a comprehensive comparison of classification and regression, covering additional aspects such as the nature of predictions, training outputs, applications, and risks associated with overfitting.

Choosing the Right Approach

So, how do we choose the right approach? Well, it depends on the problem at hand. If you need to sort data into distinct groups, like classifying emails or diagnosing diseases, classification is your best friend. But if you’re looking to predict a number, like forecasting the weather or estimating sales, regression is the way to go. It’s all about understanding the nature of your problem and choosing the technique that fits like a glove. Trust your instincts and let the data guide you!

Examples of Problems Suited for Each

To make things even clearer, let’s look at some examples of problems suited for each approach:

  • Classification:
    • Spam detection: Is this email spam or not?
    • Image recognition: Is this picture a cat, dog, or something else?
    • Medical diagnosis: What disease does the patient have based on symptoms?
  • Regression:
    • House price prediction: What is the price of a house based on its features?
    • Stock price prediction: What will the stock price be tomorrow based on historical data?
    • Weather forecasting: What will the temperature be next week based on past weather patterns?

Both classification and regression are powerful tools in the machine learning toolkit, each bringing their own unique strengths to the table. By understanding their differences and knowing when to use each, we can solve a wide array of fascinating problems and make our world a little bit smarter.

Classification and Regression: Algorithms

Some of the algorithms used in regression and classification are mentioned below. We will not define the algorithms mentioned in the above picture; These were defined in our previous post.

Classification vs Regression Algorithms

In upcoming posts, we will try to take each one of them in a detailed way, including their definition, use cases, flow, etc. For now, let’s just keep our focus on the two-supervised learning method. Example: a pair consisting of an advice object, i.e., typically a vector, and the desired output value

Conversion Between Classification and Regression

In some cases, it is possible to convert a regression problem to a classification problem and vice versa

  • Regression to Classification: In short, this is a conversion of cardinal numbers to an ordinal range by giving class names to values. Here, continuous values get converted into discrete buckets. Creating a bucketing system, i.e., classifying spending through credit cards for a value range of $0-$1000 into classes as below
    • $0  to $200 assigned to Class-1
    • $201 to $500 assigned to Class-2
    • $501 to $1000 assigned to Class-3
  • Classification to Regression: Converting ordinal range into cardinal values, i.e discrete buckets, to continuous values. After reversing the above example by changing a class value to continue range, we get results as below:
    • Class-1 assigned to value range $0 to $200
    • Class-2 assigned to value range $201 to $500
    • Class-3 assigned to value range $501 to $1000

A word of caution: mapping error for continuous range often occurs, which results in bad performance of the model. As explained above, classification is a supervised learning problem. It targets the input data for the classification task. Some of the examples where this is used are loan application approvals, medical diagnoses, email classification, etc.

Classification and Regression

Machine learning and its algorithms are either supervised or unsupervised, Traditional machine learning focuses on feature engineering; deep learning focuses on end-to-end learning based on raw features.

Tools and Libraries

Hello again, wonderful reader! Now that we’ve explored the fascinating concepts of classification and regression, let’s dive into the tools and libraries that make it all possible. These are the magical wands that turn our machine learning dreams into reality. Ready to meet them? Let’s go!

Popular Machine Learning Libraries

When it comes to building machine learning models, there are some fantastic libraries that make the process smooth and efficient. These libraries are like our trusty toolkits, filled with everything we need to create and fine-tune our models.

Tool/LibraryTypeDescription
Scikit-learnMachine Learning ToolkitScikit-learn is like your reliable friend in machine learning. It’s packed with easy tools for data mining and analysis, perfect for both beginners and experts, always ready to help!
TensorFlowDeep Learning FrameworkTensorFlow is the powerhouse of machine learning, handling small to massive models. It’s perfect for deep learning tasks like image and speech recognition. It’s like a strong, supportive team!
PyTorchDeep Learning FrameworkPyTorch is like an artist’s toolkit. It’s flexible and easy to use, favored for deep learning research and innovative AI projects. It lets you experiment and create freely!
KerasDeep Learning InterfaceKeras is your friendly guide to deep learning. Built on top of TensorFlow, it makes building neural networks easy and fast. It’s like having a helping hand to get your models running smoothly!
Model Evaluation ToolsPerformance Monitoring ToolsThese tools are like your quality inspectors, helping you measure how well your model is performing. They check accuracy, precision, recall, and more, ensuring your models are sharp and effective!
XGBoostGradient Boosting FrameworkXGBoost is like rocket fuel for decision trees. It’s optimized for speed and accuracy, making your models faster and stronger. Perfect for boosting performance when you need it most!
LightGBMGradient Boosting FrameworkLightGBM is your speedster for large datasets. It’s optimized for performance and faster results, making it ideal for scaling up your models without losing time. It’s a real workhorse!
H2O.aiAutoML PlatformH2O.ai is your automated helper, simplifying the entire model-building process. It’s an AutoML platform that helps you quickly create, train, and deploy machine learning models. It’s like having your own assistant!

These tools and libraries are like your trusted allies in machine learning. Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, and others provide easy-to-use interfaces, deep learning capabilities, and performance optimization. Whether you’re building models, evaluating performance, or boosting efficiency, these tools make your machine learning journey smoother and more powerful.

Tools for Model Evaluation

Building a model is just the beginning. To ensure our models are performing well, we need robust tools for evaluation. These tools are like our quality inspectors, making sure everything is in tip-top shape. Evaluation tools help us measure how well our models are doing and identify areas for improvement. They provide metrics like accuracy, precision, recall, and more, helping us fine-tune our models to perfection. With the right evaluation tools, we can be confident that our models are reliable and effective, ready to make a real impact.

Challenges and Future Directions

Hey there, amazing reader! Now that we’ve explored the wonders of classification and regression, let’s talk about some of the challenges we face and the exciting future that lies ahead. Let’s dive in!

Common Challenges in Classification and Regression

  • Even with all the fantastic tools and techniques at our disposal, classification and regression come with their own set of challenges. It’s like climbing a mountain; there are hurdles to overcome, but the view from the top is worth it!
  • One of the common challenges is overfitting. Imagine training a model that knows the training data so well that it struggles with new, unseen data. It’s like studying for a test by memorizing the answers rather than understanding the concepts. Overfitting makes our models less effective in real-world scenarios.
  • Another challenge is dealing with imbalanced datasets. Picture trying to learn to identify different fruits, but you have 90 apples and only 10 oranges. The model becomes biased towards apples, missing out on correctly identifying oranges. It’s essential to find ways to balance our data and ensure our models are fair and accurate.
  • We also face the issue of feature selection. Choosing the right features for our models is like picking the right ingredients for a recipe. Too many irrelevant features can complicate things, while missing out on important ones can lead to poor performance. Finding the perfect balance is key to a successful model.
Classification and Regression

Future Trends and Research Directions

  • Despite these challenges, the future of classification and regression is incredibly bright. There’s a whole world of possibilities waiting to be explored, and new trends and research directions are paving the way for exciting advancements.
  • One promising trend is the development of automated machine learning (AutoML). AutoML aims to automate the process of model selection, feature engineering, and hyperparameter tuning. It’s like having a smart assistant that helps you build the best possible model with minimal effort. This makes machine learning more accessible to everyone, regardless of their expertise.
  • Another exciting direction is the rise of explainable AI (XAI). As our models become more complex, understanding their decisions can be challenging. XAI focuses on making AI models more transparent and interpretable, helping us understand why they make certain predictions. It’s like giving our models a voice, allowing them to explain their reasoning and build trust with users.
  • We’re also seeing advancements in transfer learning, where models trained on one task can be adapted to perform another related task. It’s like teaching a seasoned chef a new recipe; they already have the skills, so learning something new is faster and more efficient. Transfer learning opens up new possibilities for reusing models and accelerating development.

Every journey has its obstacles, but overcoming them makes the adventure all the more rewarding.

Real-world Examples

Now that we’ve got a good grasp of classification and regression, let’s take a journey into the real world to see how these amazing techniques are making a difference. Get ready for some inspiring stories!

Case Study 1: Classification in Healthcare

Classification and Regression
  • Imagine a world where doctors have a superpower to diagnose diseases quickly and accurately. That’s where classification comes in! In healthcare, classification algorithms are like diligent medical detectives, helping to identify diseases based on patient symptoms and medical data.
  • For instance, think about detecting breast cancer. By analyzing mammogram images, classification models can distinguish between benign and malignant tumors, helping doctors make faster and more accurate diagnoses. This not only saves time but also lives. It’s like having a trusty sidekick that makes the fight against diseases more effective and compassionate. The future of healthcare is bright with classification on our side!

Case Study 2: Regression in Finance

Classification and Regression
  • Now, let’s switch gears and step into the world of finance. Here, regression models are like financial wizards, helping predict market trends and make smart investment decisions. Picture a financial analyst trying to forecast stock prices. Regression models analyze historical data to predict future prices, enabling investors to make informed choices.
  • Take the example of predicting housing market trends. By using regression models, analysts can predict house prices based on various factors like location, size, and market conditions. This helps buyers and sellers make better decisions and navigate the market confidently.

It’s like having a crystal ball that provides insights into the future, making finance a bit less daunting and a lot more exciting.

SECaaS - Security as a Service Is the Next Big Thing

Conclusion: Classification and Regression are powerful tools that enable machines to learn from historical data and make informed decisions or predictions on new data based on the knowledge gained during the learning process. I have elaborated our earlier posts on Machine learning algorithms for understanding classification and regression techniques under supervised learning. The main focus was on highlighting the difference between classification and regression problems. In short, it’s easy to say in a regression problem, the system attempts to predict a value for an input based on past data. In classification, predictions are made by classifying them into different categories.

Books + Other readings Referred

  • Research is done through Open Internet, news portals, economic development report papers and conferences.
  •  AILabPage (group of self-taught engineers) members do hands-on lab work.

Feedback & Further Questions

Do you have any questions about Machine Learning, Data Science or Data Analytics? Leave a comment or ask your question via email. I will try my best to answer it.

Points to Note:

A classifier instrument uses some training data to understand how given input variables relate to the class for example, spam email or not. All credits, if any, remain on the original contributor only.

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By V Sharma

A seasoned technology specialist with over 22 years of experience, I specialise in fintech and possess extensive expertise in integrating fintech with trust (blockchain), technology (AI and ML), and data (data science). My expertise includes advanced analytics, machine learning, and blockchain (including trust assessment, tokenization, and digital assets). I have a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions in mobile financial services (such as cross-border remittances, mobile money, mobile banking, and payments), IT service management, software engineering, and mobile telecom (including mobile data, billing, and prepaid charging services). With a successful history of launching start-ups and business units on a global scale, I offer hands-on experience in both engineering and business strategy. In my leisure time, I'm a blogger, a passionate physics enthusiast, and a self-proclaimed photography aficionado.

27 thoughts on “Classification and Regression Demystified in Machine Learning”
  1. Machine learning is very disruptive. Continuous Target Variable: Unlike classification, which predicts discrete labels or classes, regression predicts a continuous numeric value. For example, predicting house prices, stock prices, temperature, or sales revenue are all regression problems where the target variable is a continuous value.

  2. Your amazing insightful information entails much to me and especially to my peers. Classification is a procedure where a model or function separates data into discrete values, i.e., multiple classes of datasets using independent features. A form If-Then rule derives the mapping function. The values classify or forecast the different values like spam or not spam, yes or no, and true or false. An example of the discrete label includes predicting the possibility of an actor visiting the mall for a promotion, depending on the history of the events. The labels will be Yes or No.

  3. Big Data or the ‘unstructured’ data produced by individuals every day in the form of photos, messages,
    or videos that are not structured in form, so a data scientist is basically there to arrange this data more flowing manner.

  4. A popular training institute for data science and other emerging technologies. Offer comprehensive training programs in data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data analytics, and more. While I don’t have the specific details about their current offerings as my knowledge cutoff is in September 2021, I can provide you with a general idea of what you can expect.

    1. I appreciate your insights, and personally, I find Machine Learning to be exceptionally thrilling. The continuous quest for refining ML models leads to heightened accuracy, enabling the identification of intricate features and patterns within data. This, consequently, translates into more precise decisions and predictions.

  5. Very Nice Blog . Thanks for Posting
    I found this post really interesting. This information is beneficial for those who are looking for

  6. Imagine a world where your email automatically filters spam, your phone suggests the next word you want to type, and your social media feed shows you posts tailored to your interests. This isn’t magic; it’s the magic of machine learning. Machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence, allows computers to learn from data and make predictions or decisions without explicit programming. It’s like teaching a child to ride a bike; initially, they wobble, but over time, they get better.

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  7. Our story’s heroes, classification, and regression, are the foundation of many machine learning applications. They are the guiding stars that help machines make sense of data.
    Classification is like a detective trying to solve a mystery. It assigns data points to predefined categories. For instance, classifying emails as spam or not spam is a common use case.
    Regression, on the other hand, is like a fortune teller predicting the future. It estimates a continuous value based on historical data. Think of predicting the price of a house based on its features.

  8. Machine learning (ML) is a powerful tool that can revolutionize various sectors by providing actionable insights from data. However, there’s often confusion between two fundamental types of ML problems: classification and regression. Understanding the differences and applications of these techniques is crucial for leveraging ML effectively.

  9. Regression algorithms are used with continuous data. Classification algorithms are used with discrete data. In regression, we try to find the best-fit line, which can predict the output more accurately. In classification, we try to find the decision boundary, which can divide the dataset into different classes.

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  10. Thank you very much for sharing such a useful article. Will definitely save and revisit your site . There is no classification. The distinctions are there to amuse/torture machine learning beginners. If you’re curious to know what I mean by this, head over to my explanation here. But if you have no time for nuance, here’s what you need to know: classification is what we call it when your desired output is categorical.

  11. Experience the exceptional hair transplant in Vijayawada with our professional crew. Achieve natural-searching consequences and regain your self-assurance. Predictive modeling can be described as the mathematical problem of approximating a mapping function (f) from input variables (X) to output variables (y). This is called the problem of function approximation.

  12. Gone are the days when mankind gambled on the future by planning outcomes and the necessary actions required based on intuition. With the advent of mathematics combined with the advances in computers, we have reached an era of informed and scientific predictions of future outcomes. This is done by using computers to analyse data and apply mathematics to predict outcomes.

  13. Regression is employed when the target variable is continuous and numerical. For instance, predicting house prices, forecasting sales, or estimating temperatures are all regression problems. By finding the relationship between the input features and the continuous output, regression models help in making accurate predictions.

  14. Imagine a world where your email automatically filters spam, your phone suggests the next word you want to type, and your social media feed shows you posts tailored to your interests. This isn’t magic; it’s the magic of machine learning. Machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence, allows computers to learn from data and make predictions or decisions without explicit programming. It’s like teaching a child to ride a bike; initially, they wobble, but over time, they get better.

  15. Thank you very much for sharing such a useful article. Regression in machine learning helps organizations forecast and make better decisions by revealing the relationships between variables. Learn how it’s applied across industries. Regression techniques are essential for uncovering relationships within data and building predictive models for a wide range of enterprise use cases, from sales forecasts to risk analysis. Here’s a deep dive into this powerful machine learning technique.

  16. Regression algorithms predict continuous value from the provided input. A supervised learning algorithm uses real values to predict quantitative data like income, height, weight, scores or probability. Machine learning engineers and data scientists mostly use regression algorithms to operate distinct labeled datasets while mapping estimations.

  17. Businesspeople need to demand more from machine learning so they can connect data scientists’ work to relevant action. This requires basic machine learning literacy — what kinds of problems can machine learning solve, and how to talk about those problems with data scientists. Linear regression and feature selection are two such foundational topics.

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  19. Alongside classification, regression is one of the main applications of the supervised type of machine learning. Classification is categorising objects based on learned features, whereas regression is forecasting continuous outcomes. Both are predictive modelling problems.

    Thank you very much for sharing such a useful article.

  20. Classification aims to assign data points to specific classes, while regression seeks to predict a continuous target variable. In machine learning, classification and regression are widely used techniques for various applications, such as image recognition, sentiment analysis, and stock price forecasting. Q1.

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