RS Glossary
ML Target
A target is the desired output, label, behavior, or outcome a model is trying to predict or reach.
- Review state
- Reviewed in POC
- Freshness
- Current
- Version
- 2
- ML Target
- Target
- Prediction Target
Remember it this wayThe target is what the model is asked to predict.
In plain language
In machine learning, a target is the value or outcome a model is trained to predict. It may be a class label, number, sequence, action, or another desired output.
Why it matters
Choosing a target turns a real-world goal into a prediction problem. If the target is only a proxy, the model may learn to optimize the proxy while missing the outcome people care about.
Example
A maintenance model uses “component failed within 30 days” as its target rather than the easier but less useful target “technician opened a ticket.”
Common misconception
The target is not necessarily the true goal. It is the measurable outcome supplied to the learning process and may be incomplete, delayed, or noisy.
Related terms
Sources
- Google for Developers, “Machine Learning Glossary”provides established boundaries for core machine-learning vocabulary.
Learn more
- Compare [[output|Output]], [[training-data|Training Data]], [[loss-function|Loss Function]], and [[evaluation-metric|Evaluation Metric]] to place ML Target in the surrounding system.
- Follow the cited source material above for the method, standard, or research context behind this draft.
Public history
23 recorded events · 23 public summaries
A potential shared concept was discussed and selected for initial glossary drafting.
The captured candidate received a complete initial draft and entered section-level human review.
Radar reviewed the initial definition draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial plain-language-explanation draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial why-it-matters draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial example draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial common-misconception draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial remember-it-this-way draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial related-terms draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial sources draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial learn-more draft for human consideration.
Definition review recorded as approve.
Plain-Language Explanation review recorded as approve.
Why It Matters review recorded as approve.
Example review recorded as approve.
Common Misconception review recorded as approve.
Remember It This Way review recorded as approve.
Related Terms review recorded as approve.
Sources review recorded as approve.
Learn More review recorded as approve.
Sources review recorded as replace.
Radar verified the learner-facing sources after personal origin provenance was removed.
All nine current wording approvals were reconciled to Approved term status.
Source: vault/Glossary/terms/ml-target/term.md · sha256:107015851b11fe16f17867e5656b7f53129df1add35df47edb5a544ec6107de7 · Release: rs-glossary-glossary-team-poc-0.5.5-2026-09-02