Skip to content
✳AI UNIVERSITYBY COMMONJOBS
Machine Learning

What is a decision tree?

A decision tree predicts by applying a sequence of feature-based splits.

✳ Beginner◷ 5–10 min + practiceTEXT-BASED LEARNING

Start from zero. Learn the meaning, explore a worked example and practise in three short text lessons. No previous AI experience is needed.

Start here · beginner

01 · Understand the idea

In simple words

A decision tree makes a prediction through a series of questions. A simple plant-care tree might ask whether soil is dry, then whether the plant was watered recently. Small trees can be easy to follow. Very deep trees can learn tiny exceptions that fail on new examples.

Two useful terms

Split: a question that divides examples. Leaf: a final node that provides a prediction.

Build your understanding

A decision tree predicts by applying a sequence of feature-based splits. It is easy to visualise when small, which makes it a useful teaching model. Deep trees can create tiny leaves that memorise noise. Tree rules describe associations in the fitted dataset, not universal laws.

Sign in to save your reading progress.

Sign in
LET’S TALK

Find your next step.

Share a little about yourself. We’ll get in touch.

COMMONJOBS AI
✦ GEN Z’S WAY OF LEARNING

Your next era.
Powered by AI.

Make your next 5 days count.
Join the CommonJobs AI Bootcamp.

5-DAY AI BOOTCAMP12 Oct 2026

WE START IN

00Days
00Hours
00Minutes
00Seconds
Join Now

Learn AI. Build your next chapter.