Machine learning algorithms
18/09/2025
Classification of machine learning algorithms
Classification teaches a machine to short/arrange things into categories. It
learns by looking at examples with labels (like emails marks spam/not spam).
After learning it can decide which category new items belong to, like
identifying if a new email is spam or not.
Types of classification:
There are three main classification types in machine learning.
i) Binary classification
ii) Multiclass classification
iii) Multilevel classification
Binary classification:
This is the simplest kind of classification; in binary classification the goal is to
arrange the data into two distinct categories.
e.g. Simple choice between two options, like a system to arrange emails
either spam or not spam. It is worked by looking at different features of the
email like certain keyword or sender details and decides whether it is spam
or not.
Multiclass Classification:
In multiclass classification, instead of two categories the data needs to be
shorted into more than two categories. The model picks the one that best
matches the input.
If we think of an image recognition system that shorts pictures of animals
into categories like cat, dog and bird. Machine looks at the features in the
image like shape, colour, texture and choose which animal the picture is
most likely be based on the training it received.
Multilevel classification:
In multilevel classification single piece of data can belong to multiple
categories at one. Unlike multiclass classification where each data pint
belongs to only one class, multilevel classification allows data pints
belonging to multiple classes.
The movie recommendation system can tag a movie both action and
comedy. The system checks various features and assigns multiple levels to a
single piece of data rather than just one.
How does classification in machine learning work?
Classification involves training a model using a labeled data set. Each input
is paired with its correct output label. The model layers patterns and
relationships in the data so it can later predict labels for new unseen inputs.
Several steps are there in classification.
(i) Data Classification- It starts with a data set where each item is
labeled with the correct class, for example cat/dog.
(ii) Feature Extraction – The system identifies features like colour shape
texture that help distinguish one class from another. These features
are used in models to make predictions.
(iii) Model training – Classification machine learning algorithm uses the
labeled data to learn how to map the features to the correct class. It
looks for patterns or relationships in the data.
(iv) Model evaluation- Once the model is trained it is tested on new
unseen data to check how accurately it can classify the items.
(v) Prediction- After being trained and evaluated the model can be used
to predict the class of new data based on the features it has
learned.