Glossary
What is Epoch
The term Epoch refers to a significant period in history or geology, marking important events or changes. In geology, epochs are subdivisions of periods in the geological time scale, used to describe the Earth's history and its climatic changes. For example, the Pleistocene Epoch is renowned for its ice ages and the evolution of humans.
In computer science, particularly in machine learning, an epoch signifies one complete pass of the training dataset through the algorithm, allowing the model to update its weights. This concept is crucial for understanding how models learn over time, as multiple epochs are often required to achieve optimal accuracy.
Understanding epochs in both contexts enables researchers to analyze past events and improve future predictions. As technology evolves, the relevance of epochs in machine learning is increasing, prompting new training techniques and methodologies.