⊿ Point. {R} Glossary. ◢ Keyword: C. ◥ University. {q} PhD. {tr} Training. ⚫ UK. ↂ EndNote. ✊ Harvey (2009) Classification. Putting things into categories Classification is the activity of assigning objects to some pre-existing classes or categories. This is distinct from the task of establishing the classes themselves (for example through cluster analysis).[1] Examples include diagnostic tests, identifying spam emails and deciding whether to give someone a driving license. As well as 'category', synonyms or near-synonyms for 'class' include 'type', 'species', 'order', 'concept', 'taxon', 'group', 'identification' and 'division'.
The meaning of the word 'classification' (and its synonyms) may take on one of several related meanings. It may encompass both classification and the creation of classes, as for example in 'the task of categorizing pages in Wikipedia'; this overall activity is listed under taxonomy. Binary vs multi-class classification [edit] Evaluation of accuracy Unlike in decision theory, it is assumed that a classifier repeats the classification task over and over.