TheAlgorithms / TheAlgorithms/Java

[FEATURE REQUEST] Add Perceptron binary classifier

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Description

What would you like to Propose?

Add a Perceptron classifier to src/main/java/com/thealgorithms/machinelearning. The Perceptron is the simplest neural network and would provide an educational binary linear-classification algorithm alongside the existing LinearRegression, KNearestNeighbors, and MultinomialNaiveBayesClassifier implementations.

Issue details

Algorithm name: Perceptron

Problem statement: Given a set of feature vectors and binary class labels, learn a linear decision boundary using the Perceptron learning rule, then classify previously unseen samples. The implementation should make the bias term explicit and document that convergence is guaranteed only for linearly separable data.

Suggested scope:

  • Add Perceptron.java in the machinelearning package.
  • Use only the Java standard library; no external machine-learning dependency is needed.
  • Provide a small, clear API for fitting, predicting one sample, and predicting a batch.
  • Support configurable learning rate and maximum epochs, with deterministic zero-weight and zero-bias initialization.
  • Validate null or empty data, inconsistent feature dimensions, invalid labels, and invalid hyperparameters with clear exceptions.
  • Document the update rule, label convention, and limitations in Javadoc.

Acceptance tests:

  • Train on a linearly separable toy dataset such as AND or OR and classify all training samples correctly.
  • Verify predictions for unseen samples and batch prediction.
  • Verify that prediction before fitting fails clearly.
  • Verify invalid labels, mismatched dimensions, null or empty input, and invalid learning-rate or epoch values.
  • Include a non-separable-data test that checks documented behavior, such as stopping after the epoch limit without claiming convergence.

A historical pull request, #187, attempted a Perceptron implementation in 2018, but there is no current implementation in the package. This request is for a current Java 21 implementation with tests that follow the repository conventions.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reading the existing LinearRegression, KNearestNeighbors, and MultinomialNaiveBayesClassifier implementations under src/main/java/com/thealgorithms/machinelearning, then review the historical pull request for context. Add Perceptron.java with tests following repository conventions; done means separable data, unseen and batch predictions, pre-fit and invalid-input failures, and documented non-separable behavior all work.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
java
Domain
machine-learning
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Clearly specified
Newbie friendliness
78/100

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