AI engineering glossary · Classical ML algorithms
What is hierarchical clustering?
Hierarchical clustering: A family of clustering methods that build a nested tree of groups rather than one flat split. Bottom-up methods start with every point alone and merge the closest pair repeatedly; top-down ones split. Cutting the tree at a level gives the clusters.
Hierarchical clustering: an example
Grouping 200 products by similarity, then cutting the tree at height 5 gives 8 clusters.
Related terms
More Classical ML algorithms terms
Where you learn it
Hierarchical clustering is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.