A decision tree is a popular machine-learning algorithm for classification and regression tasks. In the context of classification, a decision tree is a tree-like model where each internal node represents a decision based on the value of a particular feature, each branch represents the outcome of the decision, and each leaf node represents the final class label.
Decision Tree
There is an in-built library called “sklearn” in that we call the function named DecisionTreeClassifier
While I was working on a dummy data set from sklearn, meaning they have their own data set which is available on their website called load_iris
Important Parameters in DecisionTreeClassifier:
- criterion: The function to measure the quality of a split (e.g., “gini” for Gini impurity or “entropy” for information gain).
- max_depth: The maximum depth of the tree.
- min_samples_split: The minimum number of samples required to split an internal node.
- min_samples_leaf: The minimum number of samples required at a leaf node.
How Decision Trees Work
- Decision Nodes:
- Each internal node tests a specific attribute or feature.
- The decision is based on the value of the feature.
- Branches:
- Each branch represents the outcome of the decision.
- Branches are labeled with the possible values of the decision attribute.
- Leaf Nodes:
- Leaf nodes represent the final decision or class label.
- Each leaf node is associated with a class label.
- Splitting:
- The tree is built by recursively splitting the dataset based on the selected features.
- The goal is to create pure leaf nodes with samples belonging to a single class.
- Stopping Criteria:
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- The tree-building process stops when a certain criterion is met (e.g., maximum depth reached or minimum samples in a leaf).
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Decision trees are simple to use and can handle both numerical and categorical data. They are, however, prone to overfitting, especially when the tree depth is not well managed. Pruning and establishing a limited depth might assist in reducing overfitting.
I used the data set which I mentioned earlier
and the output is visualized something like this
The image generated for visualizing the decision tree provides a graphical representation of the structure and decision-making process of the trained model.
The image generated by visualizing the decision tree provides a graphical representation of the structure and decision-making process of the trained model. Let’s break down what the image is telling us:
- Root Node:
- The root node is the tree’s top node. It indicates the initial decision’s characteristics and threshold. This choice is based on a certain property, and the tree branches out from that point based on the different values of that feature.
- Internal Nodes:
- Internal nodes are those in the center of the tree. Each internal node indicates a choice made on the basis of a given characteristic and threshold. “Is feature X greater than feature Y?” is a common question.
- Leaf Nodes:
- The leaf nodes are the terminal nodes at the bottom of the tree. A predicted class is represented by each leaf node. The anticipated class for instances that reach the leaf node is the majority class in that node.
- Edges (Branches):
- The results of the decisions are represented by the edges linking the nodes. For example, if a node’s decision is true, you follow the left branch; if it is false, you follow the right branch.
- Feature Names and Thresholds:
- At each decision node, the names of the characteristics and the threshold values used for splitting are presented. This information assists us in comprehending the circumstances in which the decision tree makes decisions.
- Class Names:
- The leaf nodes are labeled with the names of the classes if you specify class_names while drawing the tree. This makes interpreting the final anticipated classes simple.
We can understand how the model partitions the feature space and produces predictions based on the input features by looking at the decision tree visualization. It’s a useful tool for deciphering the model’s inner workings and determining the most significant characteristics in the decision-making process.