What the Hell is “Tensor” in “TensorFlow”?

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@sagarsharma4244SAGAR SHARMA

I didn’t know it…

We all know how to work with tensorflow library and make some amazing models like “cat-dog gif below” leading to great predictions 💯. But what the hell is a tensor?

Maybe you know it… But I didn’t know it.

Updated-Deep Learning is an attempt to copy the pattern detection ability of a human brain, the main cause of pattern detection is Neural Networks in our brain.

What is Tensor?

It is just a general term for unit of data. Duh… we all know it…

It is also represented with a Rank, like in Matrix. They are geometric objects that describe linear relations between geometric vectors, scalars, and other tensors.

Updated-A tensor consists of a set of primitive values shaped into an array of any number of dimensions.

But which type of data, Scalar or Vector?

If you think like me, that it is an upgrade of vectors like vectors is an upgrade to scalars. Then no, you are wrong. Both the quantities Scalar and Vector are Tensors.

What is a Rank or Tensor’s Rank?

The number of dimensions used to represent the data is known as its Rank.

How does it look?


rank/dimension zero tensor or a Scalar.

  5        # The shape is []

A rank/dimension 1 tensor or a Vector.

  [ 1., 2., 3., 4. ]     # The shape is [4]

A rank/dimension 2 tensor or a Matrix. This is 2D just like a photo with X axis and Y axis.

 # Matrix of shape [ 2, 4]

[ [ 1., 2., 3., 4. ], [ 5., 6., 7., 8. ] ]

A rank/dimension 3 tensor or a Tensor. This is 3D just like real world with X, Y and Z axis. Simply, it is just matrices inside a bigger matrix.

 # Tensor of shape [ 2, 1, 4 ]
 [ [ [ 1., 2., 3., 4. ] ], [ [ 5., 6., 7., 8. ] ] ] 

This is how you can increase the dimensionality of a tensor. 😃


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