Depth Deep Learning, Machine Learning
noun
Definition 1: In deep learning, the number of layers in a neural network, typically referring to the number of hidden layers or the overall layered structure of the model [Google ML Glossary].
Example in context: “A network’s number of layers is commonly referred to as the depth of the network.” [Buchholz 2023]
Definition 2: In tree-based machine learning, the number of levels in a decision tree or the maximum length of a path from the root to a leaf, typically treated as a model hyperparameter [Machine Learning Glossary].
Example in context: “For each algorithm, we restrict the chosen maximum tree depth to 5 and we report the average held-out set accuracy and model size over five different train-test splits.” [Mahfoud et al. 2025]
Related terms: network depth, tree depth, layer count