Softmax
Convert a list of scores into a probability distribution with the numerically stable softmax.
Description
Convert a list of scores into a probability distribution with the numerically stable softmax.
Softmax implements a focused machine-learning calculation. Convert a list of scores into a probability distribution with the numerically stable softmax.1
When to use Softmax
Use this tool to inspect the exact scalar or vector transformation applied between neural-network layers, reproduce a hand calculation, or compare how activations treat negative, zero, and large positive inputs.
- Values
- Raw scores.
How Softmax calculates the result
The implemented rule is: Convert a list of scores into a probability distribution with the numerically stable softmax.1
- Probabilities
- Probabilities whose mathematical sum is one.
Limitations of Softmax
An activation value alone does not predict training quality. Gradient behavior, initialization, normalization, architecture, numeric precision, loss function, and the distribution of inputs all affect whether an activation is suitable. Very large magnitudes can also expose floating-point limits even when a stable formula is used.
Alternative or Complementary analyses
Plot the activation and its derivative across the expected input range, then compare validation behavior with another activation under the same initialization and training settings. Use the softmax tool only when the outputs must be normalized jointly rather than transformed independently.
References
-
Softmax function — Wikipedia contributors
Similar or alternative tools
- Leaky ReLU
Apply the leaky ReLU activation, scaling negatives by a small slope.
- ReLU
Apply the rectified linear activation, flooring negatives at zero.
- Sigmoid
Apply the logistic sigmoid activation.