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What Is an Epoch? The number of epochs is a hyperparameter that defines the number times that the learning algorithm will work through the entire training dataset. One epoch means that each sample in the training dataset has had an opportunity to update the internal model parameters.
In a computing context, an epoch is the date and time relative to which a computer's clock and timestamp values are determined.
Epoch is once all images are processed one time individually of forward and backward to the network, then that is one epoch. I like to make sure my definition of epoch is correct. One epoch is counted when (Number of iterations * batch size) / total number of images in training.
One epoch consists of one full training cycle on the training set. Once every sample in the set is seen, you start again - marking the beginning of the 2nd epoch.
This has nothing to do with batch or online training per se. Batch means that you update once at the end of the epoch (after every sample is seen, i.e. #epoch updates) and online that you update after each sample (#samples * #epoch updates).
You can't be sure if 5 epochs or 500 is enough for convergence since it will vary from data to data. You can stop training when the error converges or gets lower than a certain threshold. This also goes into the territory of preventing overfitting. You can read up on early stopping and cross-validation regarding that.
sorry for reactivating this thread. im new to neural nets and im investigating the impact of 'mini-batch' training.
so far, as i understand it, an epoch (as runDOSrun is saying) is a through use of all in the TrainingSet (not DataSet. because DataSet = TrainingSet + ValidationSet). in mini batch training, you can sub divide the TrainingSet into small Sets and update weights inside an epoch. 'hopefully' this would make the network 'converge' faster.
some definitions of neural networks are outdated and, i guess, must be redefined.
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