AI engineering glossary · Classical ML algorithms
What is decision tree?
Decision tree: A model that predicts by asking a chain of yes/no questions about features, splitting the data at each step until it reaches a final leaf holding a prediction. It is easy to read, needs little data preparation and captures non-linear patterns, but a deep tree can memorise noise.
Decision tree: an example
A tree may ask 'is age > 30?' then 'is income > 8 lakh?' and end at a leaf saying 'approve loan'.
Related terms
More Classical ML algorithms terms
- Dendrogram
- Dimensionality reduction
- Elastic net
- Elbow method
- Ensemble learning
- Entropy
- Euclidean distance
- Expectation-maximisation
Where you learn it
Decision tree is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.