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Classification and clustering are two fundamental tasks in machine learning and data mining

Classification is a supervised learning technique that categorizes data into predefined classes using labeled training data, while clustering is an unsupervised learning method that groups similar data points without predefined labels. Classification requires training and testing datasets and is generally more complex, whereas clustering does not require such datasets and is simpler. Examples of classification algorithms include Logistic regression and Support vector machines, while clustering examples include k-means and Fuzzy c-means algorithms.

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13 views3 pages

Classification and clustering are two fundamental tasks in machine learning and data mining

Classification is a supervised learning technique that categorizes data into predefined classes using labeled training data, while clustering is an unsupervised learning method that groups similar data points without predefined labels. Classification requires training and testing datasets and is generally more complex, whereas clustering does not require such datasets and is simpler. Examples of classification algorithms include Logistic regression and Support vector machines, while clustering examples include k-means and Fuzzy c-means algorithms.

Uploaded by

Sanjana B
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Classification and clustering are two

fundamental tasks in machine learning and


data mining, but they serve different purposes.
Classification :

• Purpose : Classification is a supervised learning technique used to categorize data into


predefined classes or labels based on their features.
• Training Data: Requires labeled training data, where each example is assigned a class
label.
• Output : Produces a model that can predict the class labels of new, unseen instances.
• Examples: Spam detection in emails, sentiment analysis in text, and image classification.

Clustering :

• Purpose : Clustering is an unsupervised learning technique used to group similar data points
into clusters based on their inherent characteristics.
• Training Data: Does not require labeled training data; the algorithm discovers patterns and
structures in the data.
• Output : Produces clusters of data points, where points within a cluster are more similar to
each other than to points in other clusters.
• Examples: Customer segmentation in marketing, grouping news articles by topic, and
identifying different species based on their features.

In summary, classification is used to predict the class labels of new instances based on labeled
training data, while clustering is used to discover inherent groupings in data without the use of
labeled examples.

Classification vs Clustering

Discriminatory power of humans/machines to recognise objects is classification.

Both Classification and Clustering is used for the categorization of objects into one or more

classes based on the features.

They appear to be a similar process as the basic difference is minute.


In the case of Classification, there are predefined labels assigned to each input instance

according to their properties whereas in clustering those labels are missing.

Comparison between Classification and Clustering:

Parameter CLASSIFICATION CLUSTERING


Type used for supervised learning used for unsupervised learning
process of classifying the input grouping the instances based on their
Basic
instances based on their corresponding similarity without the help of class
Parameter CLASSIFICATION CLUSTERING
class labels labels
it has labels so there is need of training
there is no need of training and testing
Need and testing dataset for verifying the
dataset
model created
more complex as compared to less complex as compared to
Complexity
clustering classification
k-means clustering algorithm, Fuzzy c-
Example Logistic regression, Naive Bayes
means clustering algorithm, Gaussian
Algorithms classifier, Support vector machines, etc.
(EM) clustering algorithm, etc.

Differences between Classification and Clustering

1. Classification is used for supervised learning whereas clustering is used for


unsupervised learning.
2. The process of classifying the input instances based on their corresponding class labels
is known as classification whereas grouping the instances based on their similarity
without the help of class labels is known as clustering.
3. As Classification have labels so there is need of training and testing dataset for verifying
the model created but there is no need for training and testing dataset in clustering.
4. Classification is more complex as compared to clustering as there are many levels in the
classification phase whereas only grouping is done in clustering.
5. Classification examples are Logistic regression, Naive Bayes classifier, Support vector
machines, etc. Whereas clustering examples are k-means clustering algorithm, Fuzzy c-
means clustering algorithm, Gaussian (EM) clustering algorithm, etc.

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