- Machine Learning Basics
- Machine Learning - Home
- Machine Learning - Getting Started
- Machine Learning - Basic Concepts
- Machine Learning - Python Libraries
- Machine Learning - Applications
- Machine Learning - Life Cycle
- Machine Learning - Required Skills
- Machine Learning - Implementation
- Machine Learning - Challenges & Common Issues
- Machine Learning - Limitations
- Machine Learning - Reallife Examples
- Machine Learning - Data Structure
- Machine Learning - Mathematics
- Machine Learning - Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning - Neural Networks
- Machine Learning - Deep Learning
- Machine Learning - Getting Datasets
- Machine Learning - Categorical Data
- Machine Learning - Data Loading
- Machine Learning - Data Understanding
- Machine Learning - Data Preparation
- Machine Learning - Models
- Machine Learning - Supervised
- Machine Learning - Unsupervised
- Machine Learning - Semi-supervised
- Machine Learning - Reinforcement
- Machine Learning - Supervised vs. Unsupervised
- Machine Learning Data Visualization
- Machine Learning - Data Visualization
- Machine Learning - Histograms
- Machine Learning - Density Plots
- Machine Learning - Box and Whisker Plots
- Machine Learning - Correlation Matrix Plots
- Machine Learning - Scatter Matrix Plots
- Statistics for Machine Learning
- Machine Learning - Statistics
- Machine Learning - Mean, Median, Mode
- Machine Learning - Standard Deviation
- Machine Learning - Percentiles
- Machine Learning - Data Distribution
- Machine Learning - Skewness and Kurtosis
- Machine Learning - Bias and Variance
- Machine Learning - Hypothesis
- Regression Analysis In ML
- Machine Learning - Regression Analysis
- Machine Learning - Linear Regression
- Machine Learning - Simple Linear Regression
- Machine Learning - Multiple Linear Regression
- Machine Learning - Polynomial Regression
- Classification Algorithms In ML
- Machine Learning - Classification Algorithms
- Machine Learning - Logistic Regression
- Machine Learning - K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN)
- Machine Learning - Naïve Bayes Algorithm
- Machine Learning - Decision Tree Algorithm
- Machine Learning - Support Vector Machine
- Machine Learning - Random Forest
- Machine Learning - Confusion Matrix
- Machine Learning - Stochastic Gradient Descent
- Clustering Algorithms In ML
- Machine Learning - Clustering Algorithms
- Machine Learning - Centroid-Based Clustering
- Machine Learning - K-Means Clustering
- Machine Learning - K-Medoids Clustering
- Machine Learning - Mean-Shift Clustering
- Machine Learning - Hierarchical Clustering
- Machine Learning - Density-Based Clustering
- Machine Learning - DBSCAN Clustering
- Machine Learning - OPTICS Clustering
- Machine Learning - HDBSCAN Clustering
- Machine Learning - BIRCH Clustering
- Machine Learning - Affinity Propagation
- Machine Learning - Distribution-Based Clustering
- Machine Learning - Agglomerative Clustering
- Dimensionality Reduction In ML
- Machine Learning - Dimensionality Reduction
- Machine Learning - Feature Selection
- Machine Learning - Feature Extraction
- Machine Learning - Backward Elimination
- Machine Learning - Forward Feature Construction
- Machine Learning - High Correlation Filter
- Machine Learning - Low Variance Filter
- Machine Learning - Missing Values Ratio
- Machine Learning - Principal Component Analysis
- Machine Learning Miscellaneous
- Machine Learning - Performance Metrics
- Machine Learning - Automatic Workflows
- Machine Learning - Boost Model Performance
- Machine Learning - Gradient Boosting
- Machine Learning - Bootstrap Aggregation (Bagging)
- Machine Learning - Cross Validation
- Machine Learning - AUC-ROC Curve
- Machine Learning - Grid Search
- Machine Learning - Data Scaling
- Machine Learning - Train and Test
- Machine Learning - Association Rules
- Machine Learning - Apriori Algorithm
- Machine Learning - Gaussian Discriminant Analysis
- Machine Learning - Cost Function
- Machine Learning - Bayes Theorem
- Machine Learning - Precision and Recall
- Machine Learning - Adversarial
- Machine Learning - Stacking
- Machine Learning - Epoch
- Machine Learning - Perceptron
- Machine Learning - Regularization
- Machine Learning - Overfitting
- Machine Learning - P-value
- Machine Learning - Entropy
- Machine Learning - MLOps
- Machine Learning - Data Leakage
- Machine Learning - Resources
- Machine Learning - Quick Guide
- Machine Learning - Useful Resources
- Machine Learning - Discussion
Machine Learning - Clustering Algorithms
Clustering methods are one of the most useful unsupervised ML methods. These methods used to find similarity as well as relationship patterns among data samples and then cluster those samples into groups having similarity based on features. Clustering is important because it determines the intrinsic grouping among the present unlabeled data. They basically make some assumptions about data points to constitute their similarity. Each assumption will construct different but equally valid clusters.
For example, below is the diagram which shows clustering system grouped together the similar kind of data in different clusters −
Cluster Formation Methods
It is not necessary that clusters will be formed in spherical form. Followings are some other cluster formation methods −
Density-based − In these methods, the clusters are formed as the dense region. The advantage of these methods is that they have good accuracy as well as good ability to merge two clusters. Ex. Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN), Ordering Points to identify Clustering structure (OPTICS) etc.
Hierarchical-based − In these methods, the clusters are formed as a tree type structure based on the hierarchy. They have two categories namely, Agglomerative (Bottom up approach) and Divisive (Top down approach). Ex. Clustering using Representatives (CURE), Balanced iterative Reducing Clustering using Hierarchies (BIRCH) etc.
Partitioning − In these methods, the clusters are formed by portioning the objects into k clusters. Number of clusters will be equal to the number of partitions. Ex. Kmeans, Clustering Large Applications based upon randomized Search (CLARANS).
Grid − In these methods, the clusters are formed as a grid like structure. The advantage of these methods is that all the clustering operation done on these grids are fast and independent of the number of data objects. Ex. Statistical Information Grid (STING), Clustering in Quest (CLIQUE).
It is not necessary that clusters will be formed in spherical form. Followings are some other cluster formation methods −
Density-based
In these methods, the clusters are formed as the dense region. The advantage of these methods is that they have good accuracy as well as good ability to merge two clusters. Ex. Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN), Ordering Points to identify Clustering structure (OPTICS) etc.
Hierarchical-based
In these methods, the clusters are formed as a tree type structure based on the hierarchy. They have two categories namely, Agglomerative (Bottom up approach) and Divisive (Top down approach). Ex. Clustering using Representatives (CURE), Balanced iterative Reducing Clustering using Hierarchies (BIRCH) etc.
Partitioning
In these methods, the clusters are formed by portioning the objects into k clusters. Number of clusters will be equal to the number of partitions. Ex. K-means, Clustering Large Applications based upon randomized Search (CLARANS).
Grid
In these methods, the clusters are formed as a grid like structure. The advantage of these methods is that all the clustering operation done on these grids are fast and independent of the number of data objects. Ex. Statistical Information Grid (STING), Clustering in Quest (CLIQUE).
Types of ML Clustering Algorithms
The following are the most important and useful ML clustering algorithms −
K-means Clustering
This clustering algorithm computes the centroids and iterates until we it finds optimal centroid. It assumes that the number of clusters are already known. It is also called flat clustering algorithm. The number of clusters identified from data by algorithm is represented by ‘K’ in K-means.
Mean-Shift Algorithm
It is another powerful clustering algorithm used in unsupervised learning. Unlike K-means clustering, it does not make any assumptions hence it is a non-parametric algorithm.
Hierarchical Clustering
It is another unsupervised learning algorithm that is used to group together the unlabeled data points having similar characteristics.
We will be discussing all these algorithms in detail in the upcoming chapters.
Applications of Clustering
We can find clustering useful in the following areas −
Data summarization and compression − Clustering is widely used in the areas where we require data summarization, compression and reduction as well. The examples are image processing and vector quantization.
Collaborative systems and customer segmentation − Since clustering can be used to find similar products or same kind of users, it can be used in the area of collaborative systems and customer segmentation.
Serve as a key intermediate step for other data mining tasks − Cluster analysis can generate a compact summary of data for classification, testing, hypothesis generation; hence, it serves as a key intermediate step for other data mining tasks also.
Trend detection in dynamic data − Clustering can also be used for trend detection in dynamic data by making various clusters of similar trends.
Social network analysis − Clustering can be used in social network analysis. The examples are generating sequences in images, videos or audios.
Biological data analysis − Clustering can also be used to make clusters of images, videos hence it can successfully be used in biological data analysis.
Now that you know what is clustering and how it works, let's see some of the clustering algorithms used in machine learning, in the next few chapters.