Distance functions

Distance functions measure how far apart two things are within a certain space or context. They assign a numerical value representing the difference or dissimilarity between data points, objects, or points in a geometric space. For example, in a map, distance could be the actual miles between two cities. In data analysis, distance functions help compare items based on their features, enabling tasks like grouping similar items or finding the closest match. Various types exist, such as Euclidean (straight-line), Manhattan (grid-like), or cosine similarity, each suitable for different kinds of data and applications.