Definition:
Pattern Recognition /ˈpæt.ən ˌrɛk.əɡˈnɪʃ.ən/ noun — In computer science and artificial intelligence, pattern recognition refers to the process of automatically identifying regularities, trends, or structures in data using mathematical and algorithmic techniques.
It involves classifying input data into categories or patterns based on features and learned relationships, and is foundational to fields such as:
- Image and speech recognition
- Medical diagnosis (e.g., detecting tumors in scans)
- Fraud detection in financial systems
- Biometric identification
- Natural language processing
Pattern recognition methods range from statistical models (e.g., Bayesian classifiers) to machine learning algorithms like support vector machines, neural networks, and decision trees.
The process typically includes:
- Data acquisition
- Preprocessing and feature extraction
- Classification or clustering
- Evaluation and refinement
It plays a vital role in enabling machines to interpret and respond to complex, real-world data similarly to human perception.
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