Artificial Intelligence with PHP
  • Getting Started
    • Introduction
    • Audience
    • How to Read This Book
    • Glossary
    • Contributors
    • Resources
    • Changelog
  • Artificial Intelligence
    • Introduction
    • Overview of AI
      • History of AI
      • How Does AI Work?
      • Structure of AI
      • Will AI Take Over the World?
      • Types of AI
        • Limited Memory AI
        • Reactive AI
        • Theory of Mind AI
        • Self-Aware AI
    • AI Capabilities in PHP
      • Introduction to LLM Agents PHP SDK
      • Overview of AI Libraries in PHP
    • AI Agents
      • Introduction to AI Agents
      • Structure of AI Agent
      • Components of AI Agents
      • Types of AI Agents
      • AI Agent Architecture
      • AI Agent Environment
      • Application of Agents in AI
      • Challenges in AI Agent Development
      • Future of AI Agents
      • Turing Test in AI
      • LLM AI Agents
        • Introduction to LLM AI Agents
        • Implementation in PHP
          • Sales Analyst Agent
          • Site Status Checker Agent
    • Theoretical Foundations of AI
      • Introduction to Theoretical Foundations of AI
      • Problem Solving in AI
        • Introduction
        • Types of Search Algorithms
          • Comparison of Search Algorithms
          • Informed (Heuristic) Search
            • Global Search
              • Beam Search
              • Greedy Search
              • Iterative Deepening A* Search
              • A* Search
                • A* Graph Search
                • A* Graph vs A* Tree Search
                • A* Tree Search
            • Local Search
              • Hill Climbing Algorithm
                • Introduction
                • Best Practices and Optimization
                • Practical Applications
                • Implementation in PHP
              • Simulated Annealing Search
              • Local Beam Search
              • Genetic Algorithms
              • Tabu Search
          • Uninformed (Blind) Search
            • Global Search
              • Bidirectional Search (BDS)
              • Breadth-First Search (BFS)
              • Depth-First Search (DFS)
              • Iterative Deepening Depth-First Search (IDDFS)
              • Uniform Cost Search (UCS)
            • Local Search
              • Depth-Limited Search (DLS)
              • Random Walk Search (RWS)
          • Adversarial Search
          • Means-Ends Analysis
      • Knowledge & Uncertainty in AI
        • Knowledge-Based Agents
        • Knowledge Representation
          • Introduction
          • Approaches to KR in AI
          • The KR Cycle in AI
          • Types of Knowledge in AI
          • KR Techniques
            • Logical Representation
            • Semantic Network Representation
            • Frame Representation
            • Production Rules
        • Reasoning in AI
        • Uncertain Knowledge Representation
        • The Wumpus World
        • Applications and Challenges
      • Cybernetics and AI
      • Philosophical and Ethical Foundations of AI
    • Mathematics for AI
      • Computational Theory in AI
      • Logic and Reasoning
        • Classification of Logics
        • Formal Logic
          • Propositional Logic
            • Basics of Propositional Logic
            • Implementation in PHP
          • Predicate Logic
            • Basics of Predicate Logic
            • Implementation in PHP
          • Second-order and Higher-order Logic
          • Modal Logic
          • Temporal Logic
        • Informal Logic
        • Semi-formal Logic
      • Set Theory and Discrete Mathematics
      • Decision Making in AI
    • Key Application of AI
      • AI in Astronomy
      • AI in Agriculture
      • AI in Automotive Industry
      • AI in Data Security
      • AI in Dating
      • AI in E-commerce
      • AI in Education
      • AI in Entertainment
      • AI in Finance
      • AI in Gaming
      • AI in Healthcare
      • AI in Robotics
      • AI in Social Media
      • AI in Software Development
      • AI in Adult Entertainment
      • AI in Criminal Justice
      • AI in Criminal World
      • AI in Military Domain
      • AI in Terrorist Activities
      • AI in Transforming Our World
      • AI in Travel and Transport
    • Practice
  • Machine Learning
    • Introduction
    • Overview of ML
      • History of ML
        • Origins and Early Concepts
        • 19th Century
        • 20th Century
        • 21st Century
        • Coming Years
      • Key Terms and Principles
      • Machine Learning Life Cycle
      • Problems and Challenges
    • ML Capabilities in PHP
      • Overview of ML Libraries in PHP
      • Configuring an Environment for PHP
        • Direct Installation
        • Using Docker
        • Additional Notes
      • Introduction to PHP-ML
      • Introduction to Rubix ML
    • Mathematics for ML
      • Linear Algebra
        • Scalars
          • Definition and Operations
          • Scalars with PHP
        • Vectors
          • Definition and Operations
          • Vectors in Machine Learning
          • Vectors with PHP
        • Matrices
          • Definition and Types
          • Matrix Operations
          • Determinant of a Matrix
          • Inverse Matrices
          • Cofactor Matrices
          • Adjugate Matrices
          • Matrices in Machine Learning
          • Matrices with PHP
        • Tensors
          • Definition of Tensors
          • Tensor Properties
            • Tensor Types
            • Tensor Dimension
            • Tensor Rank
            • Tensor Shape
          • Tensor Operations
          • Practical Applications
          • Tensors in Machine Learning
          • Tensors with PHP
        • Linear Transformations
          • Introduction
          • LT with PHP
          • LT Role in Neural Networks
        • Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
        • Norms and Distances
        • Linear Algebra in Optimization
      • Calculus
      • Probability and Statistics
      • Information Theory
      • Optimization Techniques
      • Graph Theory and Networks
      • Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics
      • Advanced Topics
    • Data Fundamentals
      • Data Types and Formats
        • Data Types
        • Structured Data Formats
        • Unstructured Data Formats
        • Implementation with PHP
      • General Data Processing
        • Introduction
        • Storage and Management
          • Data Security and Privacy
          • Data Serialization and Deserialization in PHP
          • Data Versioning and Management
          • Database Systems for AI
          • Efficient Data Storage Techniques
          • Optimizing Data Retrieval for AI Algorithms
          • Big Data Considerations
            • Introduction
            • Big Data Techniques in PHP
      • ML Data Processing
        • Introduction
        • Types of Data in ML
        • Stages of Data Processing
          • Data Acquisition
            • Data Collection
            • Ethical Considerations in Data Preparation
          • Data Cleaning
            • Data Cleaning Examples
            • Data Cleaning Types
            • Implementation with PHP
          • Data Transformation
            • Data Transformation Examples
            • Data Transformation Types
            • Implementation with PHP ?..
          • Data Integration
          • Data Reduction
          • Data Validation and Testing
            • Data Splitting and Sampling
          • Data Representation
            • Data Structures in PHP
            • Data Visualization Techniques
          • Typical Problems with Data
    • ML Algorithms
      • Classification of ML Algorithms
        • By Methods Used
        • By Learning Types
        • By Tasks Resolved
        • By Feature Types
        • By Model Depth
      • Supervised Learning
        • Regression
          • Linear Regression
            • Types of Linear Regression
            • Finding Best Fit Line
            • Gradient Descent
            • Assumptions of Linear Regression
            • Evaluation Metrics for Linear Regression
            • How It Works by Math
            • Implementation in PHP
              • Multiple Linear Regression
              • Simple Linear Regression
          • Polynomial Regression
            • Introduction
            • Implementation in PHP
          • Support Vector Regression
        • Classification
        • Recommendation Systems
          • Matrix Factorization
          • User-Based Collaborative Filtering
      • Unsupervised Learning
        • Clustering
        • Dimension Reduction
        • Search and Optimization
        • Recommendation Systems
          • Item-Based Collaborative Filtering
          • Popularity-Based Recommendations
      • Semi-Supervised Learning
        • Regression
        • Classification
        • Clustering
      • Reinforcement Learning
      • Distributed Learning
    • Integrating ML into Web
      • Open-Source Projects
      • Introduction to EasyAI-PHP
    • Key Applications of ML
    • Practice
  • Neural Networks
    • Introduction
    • Overview of NN
      • History of NN
      • Basic Components of NN
        • Activation Functions
        • Connections and Weights
        • Inputs
        • Layers
        • Neurons
      • Problems and Challenges
      • How NN Works
    • NN Capabilities in PHP
    • Mathematics for NN
    • Types of NN
      • Classification of NN Types
      • Linear vs Non-Linear Problems in NN
      • Basic NN
        • Simple Perceptron
        • Implementation in PHP
          • Simple Perceptron with Libraries
          • Simple Perceptron with Pure PHP
      • NN with Hidden Layers
      • Deep Learning
      • Bayesian Neural Networks
      • Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN)
      • Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN)
    • Integrating NN into Web
    • Key Applications of NN
    • Practice
  • Natural Language Processing
    • Introduction
    • Overview of NLP
      • History of NLP
        • Ancient Times
        • Medieval Period
        • 15th-16th Century
        • 17th-18th Century
        • 19th Century
        • 20th Century
        • 21st Century
        • Coming Years
      • Key Concepts in NLP
      • Common Challenges in NLP
      • Machine Learning Role in NLP
    • NLP Capabilities in PHP
      • Overview of NLP Libraries in PHP
      • Challenges in NLP with PHP
    • Mathematics for NLP
    • NLP Techniques
      • Basic Text Processing with PHP
      • NLP Workflow
      • Popular Tools and Frameworks for NLP
      • Techniques and Algorithms in NLP
        • Basic NLP Techniques
        • Advanced NLP Techniques
      • Advanced NLP Topics
    • Integrating NLP into Web
    • Key Applications of NLP
    • Practice
  • Computer Vision
    • Introduction
  • Overview of CV
    • History of CV
    • Common Use Cases
  • CV Capabilities in PHP
  • Mathematics for CV
  • CV Techniques
  • Integrating CV into Web
  • Key Applications of CV
  • Practice
  • Robotics
    • Introduction
  • Overview of Robotics
    • History and Evolution of Robotics
    • Core Components
      • Sensors (Perception)
      • Actuators (Action)
      • Controllers (Processing and Logic)
    • The Role of AI in Robotics
      • Object Detection and Recognition
      • Path Planning and Navigation
      • Decision Making and Learning
  • Robotics Capabilities in PHP
  • Mathematics for Robotics
  • Building Robotics
  • Integration Robotics into Web
  • Key Applications of Robotics
  • Practice
  • Expert Systems
    • Introduction
    • Overview of ES
      • History of ES
        • Origins and Early ES
        • Milestones in the Evolution of ES
        • Expert Systems in Modern AI
      • Core Components and Architecture
      • Challenges and Limitations
      • Future Trends
    • ES Capabilities in PHP
    • Mathematics for ES
    • Building ES
      • Knowledge Representation Approaches
      • Inference Mechanisms
      • Best Practices for Knowledge Base Design and Inference
    • Integration ES into Web
    • Key Applications of ES
    • Practice
  • Cognitive Computing
    • Introduction
    • Overview of CC
      • History of CC
      • Differences Between CC and AI
    • CC Compatibilities in PHP
    • Mathematics for CC
    • Building CC
      • Practical Implementation
    • Integration CC into Web
    • Key Applications of CC
    • Practice
  • AI Ethics and Safety
    • Introduction
    • Overview of AI Ethics
      • Core Principles of AI Ethics
      • Responsible AI Development
      • Looking Ahead: Ethical AI Governance
    • Building Ethics & Safety AI
      • Fairness, Bias, and Transparency
        • Bias in AI Models
        • Model Transparency and Explainability
        • Auditing, Testing, and Continuous Monitoring
      • Privacy and Security in AI
        • Data Privacy and Consent
        • Safety Mechanisms in AI Integration
        • Preventing and Handling AI Misuse
      • Ensuring AI Accountability
        • Ethical AI in Decision Making
        • Regulations & Compliance
        • AI Risk Assessment
    • Key Applications of AI Ethics
    • Practice
  • Epilog
    • Summing-up
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On this page
  • A Closer Look to Data types
  • Structured Data
  • Unstructured Data
  • Semi-Structured Data
  • Comparing Data Types
  1. Machine Learning
  2. Data Fundamentals
  3. Data Types and Formats

Data Types

A Closer Look to Data types

Data forms the foundation of artificial intelligence and machine learning. For AI systems to learn, adapt, and make decisions, they rely on diverse forms of data that provide the raw materials for training models. Understanding the different types of data is critical for building efficient AI solutions and selecting the right techniques for data analysis.

Let's explore three major categories of data: structured, unstructured, and semi-structured. Each of these data types presents unique characteristics, advantages, and challenges when applied to AI systems. By understanding the distinctions between them, you can make informed decisions on how to preprocess, store, and utilize data effectively in AI projects.

  • Structured data is organized in a highly predefined way, making it easy to search, analyze, and process.

  • Unstructured data lacks a fixed format, requiring advanced techniques to extract meaningful insights.

  • Semi-structured data combines the flexibility of unstructured data with some organizational structure, offering a middle ground for processing.

Structured Data

Definition and characteristics:

Structured data refers to information that is highly organized and easily searchable in defined formats like rows and columns. Each data point is assigned a specific field or parameter, making it straightforward to retrieve, process, and manipulate. The organization of structured data often follows a predefined schema or structure, ensuring uniformity across records.

Structured Data is easy for search.

Examples:

  • Relational databases: Systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite store data in tables with well-defined rows and columns, linked via primary and foreign keys.

  • Spreadsheets: Tools like Excel or Google Sheets organize data in a grid of cells, where each cell corresponds to a specific row and column.

Common formats:

  • CSV: Comma-separated values files store data in plain text with each line representing a row, and commas separating each field.

  • SQL tables: Structured Query Language (SQL) is used to manage and query data stored in relational database tables.

Unstructured Data

Definition and characteristics:

Unstructured data refers to information that doesn’t adhere to a specific format or schema. This type of data is often heterogeneous and may come in forms like text, audio, video, or images, making it difficult to store and analyze using traditional relational databases. Unlike structured data, unstructured data lacks predefined fields, making searchability and processing more complex.

Unstructured Data is flexible.

Examples:

  • Text documents: Emails, reports, and web pages contain free-form text that does not follow a structured format.

  • Images and audio files: Media files like photographs, podcasts, and video recordings hold valuable information but lack predefined structure.

Challenges in processing unstructured data:

  • Complexity in storage: Storing large volumes of diverse formats (e.g., text, images) requires specialized storage systems.

  • Difficulty in analysis: Extracting useful information often requires advanced techniques like natural language processing (NLP) for text or computer vision for images.

  • Scalability issues: As the volume of unstructured data grows, handling and analyzing it efficiently becomes increasingly challenging.

Semi-Structured Data

Definition and characteristics:

Semi-structured data sits between structured and unstructured data. While it doesn’t follow a rigid tabular format, it contains tags or markers that provide some organizational framework, making it easier to process compared to unstructured data. Semi-structured data may have a flexible schema, allowing for variability in the fields that can be included.

Examples:

  • JSON: JavaScript Object Notation is a lightweight data-interchange format that uses key-value pairs to represent data. It is often used in APIs and web services.

  • XML: Extensible Markup Language organizes data in a tree-like structure, using custom tags to define data fields.

Advantages in flexibility:

  • Easier to evolve: The lack of a rigid schema makes it easier to modify or extend semi-structured data formats without breaking existing systems.

  • Wide compatibility: Semi-structured data can be easily parsed and manipulated by a variety of programming languages and tools, making it a popular choice for data interchange across different platforms.

Comparing Data Types

While understanding each data type individually is crucial, it's equally important to compare them side by side. To help visualize the strengths and weaknesses of structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data, you may compare the three data types across three key metrics:

Ease of Search:

How readily the data can be queried and retrieved.

Flexibility:

The adaptability of the data structure to changing requirements.

Machine Readability:

How easily machines can process and understand the data without human intervention.

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Last updated 1 month ago