ColumnType.java

/*
 * Encog(tm) Core v3.4 - Java Version
 * http://www.heatonresearch.com/encog/
 * https://github.com/encog/encog-java-core
 
 * Copyright 2008-2016 Heaton Research, Inc.
 *
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 *
 *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 *   
 * For more information on Heaton Research copyrights, licenses 
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 */
package org.encog.ml.data.versatile.columns;

/**
 * The type of column, defined using level of measurement.
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_of_measurement
 */
public enum ColumnType {
	/**
	 * A discrete nominal, or categorical, value specifies class membership.  For example, US states.
	 * There is a fixed number, yet no obvious, meaningful ordering.
	 */
	nominal,
	
	/**
	 * A discrete ordinal specifies a non-numeric value that has a specific ordering.  For example,
	 * the months of the year are inherently non-numerical, yet has a specific ordering.
	 */
	ordinal,
	
	/**
	 * A continuous (non-discrete) value is simply floating point numeric.  These values are 
	 * orderable and dense.
	 */
	continuous, 
	
	/**
	 * This field is ignored.
	 */
	ignore
}