## `RandomForest` The `RandomForest` class implements a parallelized random forest classifier that supports numerical and categorical features, by default using Gini gain to choose which feature to split on in each tree. The class offers several template parameters and several runtime options that can be used to control the behavior of the forest. Random forests are a collection of decision trees that give better performance than a single decision tree. They are useful for classifying points with _discrete labels_ (i.e. `0`, `1`, `2`). This implementation of the `RandomForest` class is not for regression (i.e. predicting _continuous values_). #### Basic usage example excerpt: ```c++ RandomForest rf; // Step 1: construct object. rf.Train(data, labels, 3); // Step 2: train model. rf.Classify(testData, testPredictions); // Step 3: use model to classify. ``` #### Quick links: * [Variants](#variants): alternate behavior of the `RandomForest` class * [Constructors](#constructors): create `RandomForest` objects. * [`Train()`](#training): train model. * [`Classify()`](#classification): classify with a trained model. * [Other functionality](#other-functionality) for loading, saving, and inspecting. * [Examples](#simple-examples) of simple usage and links to detailed example projects. * [Template parameters](#advanced-functionality-template-parameters) for custom behavior. #### See also: * [`DecisionTree`](#decision_tree) * [`DecisionTreeRegressor`](#decision_tree_regressor) * [mlpack classifiers](#mlpack_classifiers) * [Random forest on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_forest) * [Decision tree on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_tree) * [Leo Breiman's Random Forests page](https://www.stat.berkeley.edu/~breiman/RandomForests/cc_home.htm) ### Variants mlpack provides a few variants of the random forest classifier, using the [fully custom behavior](#fully-custom-behavior) of the `RandomForest` class. In the documentation below, the following types can be used as drop-in replacements: * `RandomForest` - This is an implementation of Breiman's seminal random forest algorithm ([website](https://www.stat.berkeley.edu/~breiman/RandomForests/cc_home.htm), [paper pdf](https://www.stat.berkeley.edu/~breiman/randomforest2001.pdf)). - The [`DecisionTree`](#decision_tree) class is used for each individual decision tree. - When training each individual decision tree, bootstrapping is used to compute the samples given to each tree for training. * `ExtraTrees` - This is an implementation of the Extremely Randomized Trees algorithm ([paper pdf](https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=336a165c17c9c56160d332b9f4a2b403fccbdbfb)). - When training an `ExtraTrees` model, each individual decision tree chooses splits for numeric data randomly. - Training an `ExtraTrees` model is generally much faster than `RandomForest`, but the accuracy of the `ExtraTrees` model will be lower. - To use `ExtraTrees`, simply replace `RandomForest` with `ExtraTrees` in the documentation below. ### Constructors Construct a `RandomForest` object using one of the constructors below. Defaults and types are detailed in the [Constructor Parameters](#constructor-parameters) section below. #### Forms: * `RandomForest()` - **Initialize the random forest without training.** - You will need to call [`Train()`](#training) later to train the tree before calling [`Classify()`](#classification). --- * `RandomForest(data, labels, numClasses)` * `RandomForest(data, labels, numClasses, weights)` * `RandomForest(data, labels, numClasses, numTrees, minLeafSize, minGainSplit, maxDepth)` * `RandomForest(data, labels, numClasses, weights, numTrees, minLeafSize, minGainSplit, maxDepth)` - **Train on numerical-only data (optionally with instance weights).** - If hyperparameters are not specified, default values are used. - `labels` should be a vector of length `data.n_cols`, containing values from `0` to `numClasses - 1` (inclusive). - If specified, `weights` should be a vector of length `data.n_cols`, containing instance weights for each point in `data`. --- * `RandomForest(data, datasetInfo, labels, numClasses)` * `RandomForest(data, datasetInfo, labels, numClasses, weights)` * `RandomForest(data, datasetInfo, labels, numClasses, numTrees, minLeafSize, minGainSplit, maxDepth)` * `RandomForest(data, datasetInfo, labels, numClasses, weights, numTrees, minLeafSize, minGainSplit, maxDepth)` - **Train on mixed categorical data (optionally with instance weights).** - If hyperparameters are not specified, default values are used. - `labels` should be a vector of length `data.n_cols`, containing values from `0` to `numClasses - 1` (inclusive). - If specified, `weights` should be a vector of length `data.n_cols`, containing instance weights for each point in `data`. --- #### Constructor Parameters: | **name** | **type** | **description** | **default** | |----------|----------|-----------------|-------------| | `data` | [`arma::mat`](../matrices.md) | [Column-major](../matrices.md) training matrix. | _(N/A)_ | | `datasetInfo` | [`data::DatasetInfo`](../../tutorials/datasetmapper.md) | Dataset information, specifying type information for each dimension. | _(N/A)_ | | `labels` | [`arma::Row`]('../matrices.md') | Training labels, between `0` and `numClasses - 1` (inclusive). Should have length `data.n_cols`. | _(N/A)_ | | `numClasses` | `size_t` | Number of classes in the dataset. | _(N/A)_ | | `weights` | [`arma::rowvec`]('../matrices.md') | Weights for each training point. Should have length `data.n_cols`. | _(N/A)_ | | `numTrees` | `size_t` | Number of trees to train in the random forest. | `20` | | `minLeafSize` | `size_t` | Minimum number of points in each leaf node of each decision tree. | `1` | | `minGainSplit` | `double` | Minimum gain for a node to split in each decision tree. | `1e-7` | | `maxDepth` | `size_t` | Maximum depth for each decision tree. (0 means no limit.) | `0` | * If OpenMP is enabled, one thread will be used to train each of the `numTrees` trees in the random forest. The computational effort involved with training a random forest increases linearly with the number of trees. * The default `minLeafSize` is `1`, unlike `DecisionTree`. This is because random forests are less susceptible to overfitting due to their ensembled nature. * Note that the default `minLeafSize` of `1` will make large decision trees, and so if a smaller-sized model is desired, this value should be increased (at the potential cost of accuracy). * `minGainSplit` can also be increased if a smaller-sized model is desired. ***Note:*** different types can be used for `data` and `weights` (e.g., `arma::fmat`, `arma::sp_mat`). However, the element type of `data` and `weights` must match; for example, if `data` has type `arma::fmat`, then `weights` must have type `arma::frowvec`. ### Training If training is not done as part of the constructor call, it can be done with one of the versions of the `Train()` member function. For an instance of `RandomForest` named `rf`, the following functions for training are available: * `rf.Train(data, labels, numClasses)` * `rf.Train(data, labels, numClasses, weights)` * `rf.Train(data, labels, numClasses, numTrees, minLeafSize, minGainSplit, maxDepth)` * `rf.Train(data, labels, numClasses, weights, numTrees, minLeafSize, minGainSplit, maxDepth)` * `rf.Train(data, labels, numClasses, numTrees, minLeafSize, minGainSplit, maxDepth, warmStart)` * `rf.Train(data, labels, numClasses, weights, numTrees, minLeafSize, minGainSplit, maxDepth, warmStart)` - **Train on numerical-only data (optionally with instance weights).** - If hyperparameters are not specified, default values are used. - `labels` should be a vector of length `data.n_cols`, containing values from `0` to `numClasses - 1` (inclusive). - If specified, `weights` should be a vector of length `data.n_cols`, containing instance weights for each point in `data`. - Returns a `double` with the average gain of each tree in the random forest. By default, this is the Gini gain, unless a different [`FitnessFunction` template parameter](#fully-custom-behavior) is specified. - If the optional `warmStart` parameter is set to `true`, then the `Train()` call will simply add `numTrees` new trees to the existing random forest. Otherwise, a new random forest will be trained. --- * `rf.Train(data, datasetInfo, labels, numClasses)` * `rf.Train(data, datasetInfo, labels, numClasses, weights)` * `rf.Train(data, datasetInfo, labels, numClasses, numTrees, minLeafSize, minGainSplit, maxDepth)` * `rf.Train(data, datasetInfo, labels, numClasses, weights, numTrees, minLeafSize, minGainSplit, maxDepth)` * `rf.Train(data, datasetInfo, labels, numClasses, numTrees, minLeafSize, minGainSplit, maxDepth, warmStart)` * `rf.Train(data, datasetInfo, labels, numClasses, weights, numTrees, minLeafSize, minGainSplit, maxDepth, warmStart)` - **Train on mixed categorical data (optionally with instance weights).** - If hyperparameters are not specified, default values are used. - `labels` should be a vector of length `data.n_cols`, containing values from `0` to `numClasses - 1` (inclusive). - If specified, `weights` should be a vector of length `data.n_cols`, containing instance weights for each point in `data`. - Returns a `double` with the average gain of each tree in the random forest. By default, this is the Gini gain, unless a different [`FitnessFunction` template parameter](#fully-custom-behavior) is specified. - If the optional `warmStart` parameter is set to `true`, then the `Train()` call will simply add `numTrees` new trees to the existing random forest. Otherwise, a new random forest will be trained. --- Types of each argument are the same as in the table for constructors [above](#constructor-parameters). The `warmStart` option, which allows incremental training (i.e. additional training on top of an existing model) is of type `bool` and defaults to `false`. This option is not available in the [constructors](#constructors). ### Classification Once a `RandomForest` is trained, the `Classify()` member function can be used to make class predictions for new data. Defaults and types are detailed in the [Classification Parameters](#classification-parameters) section below. #### Forms: * `size_t predictedClass = rf.Classify(point)` - ***(Single-point)*** - Classify a single point, returning the predicted class. --- * `rf.Classify(point, prediction, probabilities_vec)` - ***(Single-point)*** - Classify a single point and compute class probabilities. - The predicted class is stored in `prediction`. - The class probabilities are stored in `probabilities_vec`, which is set to length `numClasses`. - The probability of class `i` can be accessed with `probabilities_vec[i]`. --- * `rf.Classify(data, predictions)` - ***(Multi-point)*** - Classify a set of points. - The predicted class of each point is stored in `predictions`, which is set to length `data.n_cols`. - The prediction for data point `i` can be accessed with `predictions[i]`. --- * `rf.Classify(data, predictions, probabilities)` - ***(Multi-point)*** - Classify a set of points and compute class probabilities for each point. - The predicted class of each point is stored in `predictions`, which is set to length `data.n_cols`. - The prediction for data point `i` can be accessed with `predictions[i]`. - The class probabilities for each point are stored in `probabilities`, which is set to size `numClasses` by `data.n_cols`. - The probability of class `j` for data point `i` can be accessed with `probabilities(j, i)`. --- #### Classification Parameters: | **usage** | **name** | **type** | **description** | |-----------|----------|----------|-----------------| | _single-point_ | `point` | [`arma::vec`](../matrices.md) | Single point for classification. | | _single-point_ | `prediction` | `size_t&` | `size_t` to store class prediction into. | | _single-point_ | `probabilities_vec` | [`arma::vec&`](../matrices.md) | `arma::vec&` to store class probabilities into. | |||| | _multi-point_ | `data` | [`arma::mat`](../matrices.md) | Set of [column-major](../matrices.md) points for classification. | | _multi-point_ | `predictions` | [`arma::Row&`](../matrices.md) | Vector of `size_t`s to store class prediction into. | | _multi-point_ | `probabilities` | [`arma::mat&`](../matrices.md) | Matrix to store class probabilities into (number of rows will be equal to number of classes). | ***Note:*** different types can be used for `data` and `point` (e.g. `arma::fmat`, `arma::sp_mat`, `arma::sp_vec`, etc.). However, the element type that is used should be the same type that was used for training. ### Other Functionality * A `RandomForest` can be serialized with [`data::Save()`](../formats.md) and [`data::Load()`](../formats.md). * `rf.NumTrees()` will return a `size_t` indicating the number of trees in the random forest. * `rf.Tree(i)` will return a [`DecisionTree` object](#decision_tree) representing the `i`th decision tree in the random forest. For complete functionality, the [source code](/src/mlpack/methods/random_forest/random_forest.hpp) can be consulted. Each method is fully documented. ### Simple Examples Train a random forest on random numeric data and predict labels on a test set: ```c++ // 1000 random points in 10 dimensions. arma::mat dataset(10, 1000, arma::fill::randu); // Random labels for each point, totaling 5 classes. arma::Row labels = arma::randi>(1000, arma::distr_param(0, 4)); // Train in the constructor, using 10 trees in the forest. RandomForest<> rf(dataset, labels, 5, 10); // Create test data (500 points). arma::mat testDataset(10, 500, arma::fill::randu); arma::Row predictions; rf.Classify(testDataset, predictions); // Now `predictions` holds predictions for the test dataset. // Print some information about the test predictions. std::cout << arma::accu(predictions == 3) << " test points classified as class " << "3." << std::endl; ``` --- Train a random forest incrementally on random mixed categorical data: ```c++ // Load a categorical dataset. arma::mat dataset; data::DatasetInfo info; // See https://datasets.mlpack.org/covertype.train.arff. data::Load("covertype.train.arff", dataset, info, true); arma::Row labels; // See https://datasets.mlpack.org/covertype.train.labels.csv. data::Load("covertype.train.labels.csv", labels, true); // Create the random forest. RandomForest<> rf; // Train 10 trees on the given dataset, with a minimum leaf size of 3. rf.Train(dataset, info, labels, 7 /* classes */, 10 /* trees */, 3 /* minimum leaf size */); // Now load categorical test data. arma::mat testDataset; // See https://datasets.mlpack.org/covertype.test.arff. data::Load("covertype.test.arff", testDataset, info, true); arma::Row testLabels; // See https://datasets.mlpack.org/covertype.test.labels.csv. data::Load("covertype.test.labels.csv", testLabels, true); // Compute test set accuracy. arma::Row testPredictions; rf.Classify(testDataset, testPredictions); double accuracy = 100.0 * ((double) arma::accu(testPredictions == testLabels)) / testLabels.n_elem; std::cout << "After training 10 trees, test set accuracy is " << accuracy << "%." << std::endl; // Now train another 10 trees and compute the test accuracy. rf.Train(dataset, info, labels, 7 /* classes */, 10 /* trees */, 3 /* minimum leaf size */, 0.0 /* minimum split gain */, 0 /* maximum depth (unlimited) */, true /* incremental training */); rf.Classify(testDataset, testPredictions); accuracy = 100.0 * ((double) arma::accu(testPredictions == testLabels)) / testLabels.n_elem; std::cout << "After training 20 trees, test set accuracy is " << accuracy << "%." << std::endl; ``` --- Load a random forest and print some information about it. ```c++ RandomForest<> rf; // This call assumes a random forest called "rf" has already been saved to // `rf.bin` with `data::Save()`. data::Load("rf.bin", "rf", rf, true); std::cout << "The random forest in 'rf.bin' contains " << rf.NumTrees() << " trees." << std::endl; if (rf.NumTrees() > 0) { std::cout << "The first tree's root node has " << rf.Tree(0).NumChildren() << " children." << std::endl; } ``` --- Train a random forest on categorical data, and compare its performance with the performance of each individual tree: ```c++ // Load a categorical dataset (training and test sets). arma::mat dataset, testDataset; data::DatasetInfo info; arma::Row labels, testLabels; // See the following files: // * https://datasets.mlpack.org/covertype.train.arff // * https://datasets.mlpack.org/covertype.train.labels.csv // * https://datasets.mlpack.org/covertype.test.arff // * https://datasets.mlpack.org/covertype.test.labels.csv data::Load("covertype.train.arff", dataset, info, true); data::Load("covertype.train.labels.csv", labels, true); data::Load("covertype.test.arff", testDataset, info, true); data::Load("covertype.test.labels.csv", testLabels, true); // Create the random forest. RandomForest<> rf; // Train 20 trees on the given dataset, with a minimum leaf size of 5. rf.Train(dataset, info, labels, 7 /* classes */, 20 /* trees */, 5 /* minimum leaf size */); // Compute test set accuracy for each tree. arma::Row testPredictions; for (size_t i = 0; i < rf.NumTrees(); ++i) { rf.Tree(i).Classify(testDataset, testPredictions); const double accuracy = 100.0 * ((double) arma::accu(testPredictions == testLabels)) / testLabels.n_elem; std::cout << "Tree " << i << " has test accuracy " << accuracy << "%." << std::endl; } // Now compute accuracy using the whole forest. rf.Classify(testDataset, testPredictions); const double accuracy = 100.0 * ((double) arma::accu(testPredictions == testLabels)) / testLabels.n_elem; std::cout << "The whole forest has test accuracy " << accuracy << "%." << std::endl; ``` --- Train an `ExtraTrees` model on random numeric data. ```c++ // 1000 random points in 10 dimensions. arma::mat dataset(10, 1000, arma::fill::randu); // Random labels for each point, totaling 5 classes. arma::Row labels = arma::randi>(1000, arma::distr_param(0, 4)); // Train in the constructor, using 10 trees in the forest. // Note that `ExtraTrees` has exactly the same API as `RandomForest`. ExtraTrees<> rf(dataset, labels, 5, 10); // Create a single test point. arma::vec testPoint(10, arma::fill::randu); size_t prediction; arma::vec probabilities; rf.Classify(testPoint, prediction, probabilities); std::cout << "Test point predicted to be class " << prediction << "." << std::endl; std::cout << "Probabilities of each class: " << probabilities.t(); ``` --- See also the following fully-working examples: - [Rainfall prediction with `RandomForest`](https://github.com/mlpack/examples/blob/master/rainfall_prediction_with_random_forest/rainfall-prediction-with-random-forest-cpp.ipynb) - [Forest cover type prediction with `RandomForest`](https://github.com/mlpack/examples/blob/master/rainfall_prediction_with_random_forest/rainfall-prediction-with-random-forest-cpp.ipynb) ### Advanced Functionality: Template Parameters #### Using different element types. `RandomForest`'s constructors, `Train()`, and `Predict()` functions support any data type, so long as it supports the Armadillo matrix API. So, for instance, learning can be done on single-precision floating-point data: ```c++ // 1000 random points in 10 dimensions. arma::fmat dataset(10, 1000, arma::fill::randu); // Random labels for each point, totaling 5 classes. arma::Row labels = arma::randi>(1000, arma::distr_param(0, 4)); // Train in the constructor. RandomForest<> rf(dataset, labels, 5); // Create test data (500 points). arma::fmat testDataset(10, 500, arma::fill::randu); arma::Row predictions; rf.Classify(testDataset, predictions); // Now `predictions` holds predictions for the test dataset. // Print some information about the test predictions. std::cout << arma::accu(predictions == 0) << " test points classified as class " << "0." << std::endl; ``` --- #### Fully custom behavior. The `RandomForest<>` class also supports several template parameters, which can be used for custom behavior during learning. This flexibility is used to provide [API-compatible variants of `RandomForest`](#variants). The full signature of the class is as follows: ```c++ RandomForest ``` * `FitnessFunction`: the measure of goodness to use when deciding on tree splits * `DimensionSelectionType`: the strategy used for proposing dimensions to attempt to split on * `NumericSplitType`: the strategy used for finding splits on numeric data dimensions * `CategoricalSplitType`: the strategy used for finding splits on categorical data dimensions * `UseBootstrap`: a boolean indicating whether or not to use a bootstrap sample when training each tree in the forest Note that the first four of these template parameters are exactly the same as the template parameters for the [`DecisionTree`](#decision_tree#fully-custom-behavior) class. Below, details are given for the requirements of each of these template types. --- #### `FitnessFunction` * Specifies the fitness function to use when learning a decision tree. * The `GiniGain` _(default)_ and `InformationGain` classes are available for drop-in usage. * A custom class must implement three functions: ```c++ // You can use this as a starting point for implementation. class CustomFitnessFunction { // Return the range (difference between maximum and minimum gain values). double Range(const size_t numClasses); // Compute the gain for the given vector of labels, where `labels[i]` has an // associated instance weight `weights[i]`. // // `RowType` and `WeightVecType` will be vector types following the Armadillo // API. If `UseWeights` is `false`, then the `weights` vector should be // ignored (e.g. the labels are not weighted). template double Evaluate(const RowType& labels, const size_t numClasses, const WeightVecType& weights); // Compute the gain for the given counted set of labels, where `counts[i]` // contains the number of points with label `i`. There are `totalCount` // labels total, and `counts` has length `numClasses`. // // `UseWeights` is ignored, and `CountType` will be an integral type (e.g. // `size_t`). template double EvaluatePtr(const CountType* counts, const size_t numClasses, const CountType totalCount); }; ``` --- #### `DimensionSelectionType` * When splitting a tree in the forest, `DimensionSelectionType` proposes possible dimensions to try splitting on. * `MultipleRandomDimensionSelect` _(default)_ is available for drop-in usage and proposes a different random subset of dimensions at each decision tree node. - By default each random subset is of size `sqrt(d)` where `d` is the number of dimensions in the data. - If constructed as `MultipleRandomDimensionSelect(n)` and passed to the constructor of `RandomForest<>` or the `Train()` function, each random subset will be of size `n`. * Each `RandomForest` [constructor](#constructors) and each version of the [`Train()`](#training) function optionally accept an instantiated `DimensionSelectionType` object as the very last parameter (after `maxDepth` in the constructor, or `warmStart` in `Train()`), in case some internal state in the dimension selection mechanism is required. * A custom class must implement three simple functions: ```c++ class CustomDimensionSelect { public: // Get the first dimension to try. // This should return a value between `0` and `data.n_rows`. size_t Begin(); // Get the next dimension to try. Note that internal state can be used to // track which candidate dimension is currently being looked at. // This should return a value between `0` and `data.n_rows`. size_t Next(); // Get a value indicating that all dimensions have been tried. size_t End() const; // The usage pattern of `DimensionSelectionType` by `DecisionTree` is as // follows, assuming that `dim` is an instantiated `DimensionSelectionType` // object: // // for (size_t dim = dim.Begin(); dim != dim.End(); dim = dim.Next()) // { // // ... try to split on dimension `dim` ... // } }; ``` --- #### `NumericSplitType` * Specifies the strategy to be used during training when splitting a numeric feature. * The `BestBinaryNumericSplit` _(default)_ class is available for drop-in usage and finds the best binary (two-way) split among all possible binary splits. * The `RandomBinaryNumericSplit` class is available for drop-in usage and will select a split randomly between the minimum and maximum values of a dimension. It is very efficient but does not yield splits that maximize the gain. (Used by the `ExtraTrees` [variant](#variants).) * A custom class must take a [`FitnessFunction`](#fitness-function) as a template parameter, implement three functions, and have an internal structure `AuxiliarySplitInfo` that is used at classification time: ```c++ template class CustomNumericSplit { public: // If a split with better resulting gain than `bestGain` is found, then // information about the new, better split should be stored in `splitInfo` and // `aux`. Specifically, a split is better than `bestGain` if the sum of the // gains that the children will have (call this `sumChildrenGains`) is // sufficiently better than the gain of the unsplit node (call this // `unsplitGain`): // // split if `sumChildrenGains - unsplitGain > bestGain`, and // `sumChildrenGains - unsplitGain > minGainSplit`, and // each child will have at least `minLeafSize` points // // The new best split value should be returned (or anything greater than or // equal to `bestGain` if no better split is found). // // If a new best split is found, then `splitInfo` and `aux` should be // populated with the information that will be needed for // `CalculateDirection()` to successfully choose the child for a given point. // `splitInfo` should be set to a vector of length 1. The format of `aux` is // arbitrary and is detailed more below. // // If `UseWeights` is false, the vector `weights` should be ignored. // Otherwise, they are instance weighs for each value in `data` (one dimension // of the input data). template double SplitIfBetter(const double bestGain, const VecType& data, const arma::Row& labels, const size_t numClasses, const WeightVecType& weights, const size_t minLeafSize, const double minGainSplit, arma::vec& splitInfo, AuxiliarySplitInfo& aux); // Return the number of children for a given split (stored as the single // element from `splitInfo` and auxiliary data `aux` in `SplitIfBetter()`). size_t NumChildren(const double& splitInfo, const AuxiliarySplitInfo& aux); // Given a point with value `point`, and split information `splitInfo` and // `aux`, return the index of the child that corresponds to the point. So, // e.g., if the split type was a binary split on the value `splitInfo`, you // might return `0` if `point < splitInfo`, and `1` otherwise. template static size_t CalculateDirection( const ElemType& point, const double& splitInfo, const AuxiliarySplitInfo& /* aux */); // This class can hold any extra data that is necessary to encode a split. It // should only be non-empty if a single `double` value cannot be used to hold // the information corresponding to a split. class AuxiliarySplitInfo { }; }; ``` --- #### `CategoricalSplitType` * Specifies the strategy to be used during training when splitting a categorical feature. * The `AllCategoricalSplit` _(default)_ is available for drop-in usage and splits all categories into their own node. * A custom class must take a [`FitnessFunction`](#fitness-function) as a template parameter, implement three functions, and have an internal structure `AuxiliarySplitInfo` that is used at classification time: ```c++ template class CustomCategoricalSplit { public: // If a split with better resulting gain than `bestGain` is found, then // information about the new, better split should be stored in `splitInfo` and // `aux`. Specifically, a split is better than `bestGain` if the sum of the // gains that the children will have (call this `sumChildrenGains`) is // sufficiently better than the gain of the unsplit node (call this // `unsplitGain`): // // split if `sumChildrenGains - unsplitGain > bestGain`, and // `sumChildrenGains - unsplitGain > minGainSplit`, and // each child will have at least `minLeafSize` points // // The new best split value should be returned (or anything greater than or // equal to `bestGain` if no better split is found). // // If a new best split is found, then `splitInfo` and `aux` should be // populated with the information that will be needed for // `CalculateDirection()` to successfully choose the child for a given point. // `splitInfo` should be set to a vector of length 1. The format of `aux` is // arbitrary and is detailed more below. // // If `UseWeights` is false, the vector `weights` should be ignored. // Otherwise, they are instance weighs for each value in `data` (one // categorical dimension of the input data, which takes values between `0` and // `numCategories - 1`). template static double SplitIfBetter( const double bestGain, const VecType& data, const size_t numCategories, const LabelsType& labels, const size_t numClasses, const WeightVecType& weights, const size_t minLeafSize, const double minGainSplit, arma::vec& splitInfo, AuxiliarySplitInfo& aux); // Return the number of children for a given split (stored as the single // element from `splitInfo` and auxiliary data `aux` in `SplitIfBetter()`). size_t NumChildren(const double& splitInfo, const AuxiliarySplitInfo& aux); // Given a point with (categorical) value `point`, and split information // `splitInfo` and `aux`, return the index of the child that corresponds to // the point. So, e.g., for `AllCategoricalSplit`, which splits a categorical // dimension into one child for each category, this simply returns `point`. template static size_t CalculateDirection( const ElemType& point, const double& splitInfo, const AuxiliarySplitInfo& /* aux */); // This class can hold any extra data that is necessary to encode a split. It // should only be non-empty if a single `double` value cannot be used to hold // the information corresponding to a split. class AuxiliarySplitInfo { }; }; ``` --- #### `UseBootstrap` * A `bool` value that indicates whether or not a bootstrap sample of the dataset should be used for the training of each individual decision tree in the random forest. * If `true` _(default)_, a different bootstrap sample of the same size as the dataset will be used to train each decision tree. * If `false` _(default for the `ExtraTrees` [variant](#variants))_, the full dataset will be used to train each decision tree.