AI Glossary/Activation Function
Neural Networks

Activation Function

A mathematical function that determines the output of a neuron based on its weighted input sum.

In-depth explanation

Activation functions introduce non-linearity, enabling neural networks to learn complex patterns. Without them, a network would just be a linear transformation. Common functions include ReLU (max(0, x)), sigmoid (1/(1+e^-x)), tanh, and softmax (for multi-class output). Choice of activation function affects training dynamics and model capabilities.

Examples

ReLU in hidden layers
Softmax in classification output

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