Search icon CANCEL
Subscription
0
Cart icon
Your Cart (0 item)
Close icon
You have no products in your basket yet
Arrow left icon
Explore Products
Best Sellers
New Releases
Books
Videos
Audiobooks
Learning Hub
Conferences
Free Learning
Arrow right icon
Natural Language Processing with TensorFlow
Natural Language Processing with TensorFlow

Natural Language Processing with TensorFlow: Teach language to machines using Python's deep learning library

eBook
€8.99 €26.99
Paperback
€32.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at €18.99p/m

What do you get with eBook?

Product feature icon Instant access to your Digital eBook purchase
Product feature icon Download this book in EPUB and PDF formats
Product feature icon Access this title in our online reader with advanced features
Product feature icon DRM FREE - Read whenever, wherever and however you want
OR
Modal Close icon
Payment Processing...
tick Completed

Billing Address

Table of content icon View table of contents Preview book icon Preview Book

Natural Language Processing with TensorFlow

Chapter 2. Understanding TensorFlow

In this chapter, you will get an in-depth understanding of TensorFlow. This is an open source distributed numerical computation framework, and it will be the main platform on which we will be implementing all our exercises.

We will get started with TensorFlow by defining a simple calculation and trying to compute it using TensorFlow. After we successfully complete this, we will investigate how TensorFlow executes this computation. This will help us to understand how the framework creates a computational graph to compute the outputs and execute this graph through something known as a session. Then we will gain a hands-on experience of the TensorFlow architecture by relating how TensorFlow executes things, with the help of an analogy of how a restaurant might operate.

Having gained a good conceptual and technical understanding of how TensorFlow operates, we will look at some of the important computational operations that the framework offers. First...

What is TensorFlow?

In Chapter 1, Introduction to Natural Language Processing, we briefly discussed what TensorFlow is. Now let's take a closer look at it. TensorFlow is an open source distributed numerical computation framework released by Google that is mainly intended to alleviate the painful details of implementing a neural network (for example, computing derivatives of the weights of the neural network). TensorFlow takes this even a step further by providing efficient implementations of such numerical computations using Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA), which is a parallel computational platform introduced by NVIDIA. The Application Programming Interface (API) of TensorFlow at https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/ shows that TensorFlow provides thousands of operations that make our lives easier.

TensorFlow was not developed overnight. This is a result of the persistence of talented, good-hearted individuals who wanted to make a difference by bringing deep learning...

Inputs, variables, outputs, and operations

Now with an understanding of the underlying architecture let's proceed to the most common elements that comprise a TensorFlow client. If you read any of the millions of TensorFlow clients available on the internet, they all (the TensorFlow-related code) fall into one of these buckets:

  • Inputs: Data used to train and test our algorithms
  • Variables: Mutable tensors, mostly defining the parameters of our algorithms
  • Outputs: Immutable tensors storing both terminal and intermediate outputs
  • Operations: Various transformations for inputs to produce the desired outputs

In our earlier example, in the sigmoid example, we can find instances of all these categories. We list the elements in Table 2.1:

TensorFlow element

Value from example client

Inputs

x

Variables

W and b

Outputs

h

Operations

tf.matmul(...), tf.nn.sigmoid(...)

The following subsections explain each of these TensorFlow elements in more detail.

Defining inputs in TensorFlow

The client...

Reusing variables with scoping

Until now, we have looked at the architecture of TensorFlow and the essentials required to implement a basic TensorFlow client. However, there is much more to TensorFlow than this. As we already saw, TensorFlow behaves quite differently from a typical Python script. For example, you cannot debug TensorFlow code in real time (as you would do a simple Python script using a Python IDE), as the computations do not happen in real time in TensorFlow (unless you are using the Eager Execution method, which was only recently in TensorFlow 1.7: https://research.googleblog.com/2017/10/eager-execution-imperative-define-by.html). In other words, TensorFlow first defines the full computational graph, does all computations on a device, and finally fetches results. Consequently, it can be quite tedious and painful to debug a TensorFlow client. This emphasizes the importance of attention to detail when implementing a TensorFlow client. Therefore, it is advised to adhere to...

Implementing our first neural network

Great! Now that you've learned the architecture, basics, and scoping mechanism of TensorFlow, it's high time that we move on and implement something moderately complex. Let's implement a neural network. Precisely, we will implement a fully connected neural network model that we discussed in Chapter 1, Introduction to Natural Language Processing.

One of the stepping stones to the introduction of neural networks is to implement a neural network that is able to classify digits. For this task, we will be using the famous MNIST dataset made available at http://yann.lecun.com/exdb/mnist/. You might feel a bit skeptical regarding our using a computer vision task rather than a NLP task. However, vision tasks can be implemented with less preprocessing and are easy to understand.

As this is our first encounter with neural networks, we will walk through the main parts of the example. However, note that I will only walk through the crucial bits of...

Summary

In this chapter, you took your first steps to solving NLP tasks by understanding the primary underlying platform (TensorFlow) on which we will be implementing our algorithms. First, we discussed the underlying details of TensorFlow architecture. Next, we discussed the essential ingredients of a meaningful TensorFlow client. Then we discussed a general coding practice widely used in TensorFlow known as scoping. Later, we brought all these elements together to implement a neural network to classify an MNIST dataset.

Specifically, we discussed the TensorFlow architecture lining up the explanation with an example TensorFlow client. In the TensorFlow client, we defined the TensorFlow graph. Then, when we created a session, it looked at the graph, created a GraphDef object representing the graph, and sent it to the distributed master. The distributed master looked at the graph, decided which components to use for the relevant computation, and divided it into several subgraphs to make the...

Left arrow icon Right arrow icon
Download code icon Download Code

Key benefits

  • • Focuses on more efficient natural language processing using TensorFlow
  • • Covers NLP as a field in its own right to improve understanding for choosing TensorFlow tools and other deep learning approaches
  • • Provides choices for how to process and evaluate large unstructured text datasets
  • • Learn to apply the TensorFlow toolbox to specific tasks in the most interesting field in artificial intelligence

Description

Natural language processing (NLP) supplies the majority of data available to deep learning applications, while TensorFlow is the most important deep learning framework currently available. Natural Language Processing with TensorFlow brings TensorFlow and NLP together to give you invaluable tools to work with the immense volume of unstructured data in today’s data streams, and apply these tools to specific NLP tasks. Thushan Ganegedara starts by giving you a grounding in NLP and TensorFlow basics. You'll then learn how to use Word2vec, including advanced extensions, to create word embeddings that turn sequences of words into vectors accessible to deep learning algorithms. Chapters on classical deep learning algorithms, like convolutional neural networks (CNN) and recurrent neural networks (RNN), demonstrate important NLP tasks as sentence classification and language generation. You will learn how to apply high-performance RNN models, like long short-term memory (LSTM) cells, to NLP tasks. You will also explore neural machine translation and implement a neural machine translator. After reading this book, you will gain an understanding of NLP and you'll have the skills to apply TensorFlow in deep learning NLP applications, and how to perform specific NLP tasks.

Who is this book for?

This book is for Python developers with a strong interest in deep learning, who want to learn how to leverage TensorFlow to simplify NLP tasks. Fundamental Python skills are assumed, as well as some knowledge of machine learning and undergraduate-level calculus and linear algebra. No previous natural language processing experience required, although some background in NLP or computational linguistics will be helpful.

What you will learn

  • • Core concepts of NLP and various approaches to natural language processing
  • • How to solve NLP tasks by applying TensorFlow functions to create neural networks
  • • Strategies to process large amounts of data into word representations that can be used by deep learning applications
  • • Techniques for performing sentence classification and language generation using CNNs and RNNs
  • • About employing state-of-the art advanced RNNs, like long short-term memory, to solve complex text generation tasks
  • • How to write automatic translation programs and implement an actual neural machine translator from scratch
  • • The trends and innovations that are paving the future in NLP

Product Details

Country selected
Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : May 31, 2018
Length: 472 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781788477758
Category :
Languages :
Tools :

What do you get with eBook?

Product feature icon Instant access to your Digital eBook purchase
Product feature icon Download this book in EPUB and PDF formats
Product feature icon Access this title in our online reader with advanced features
Product feature icon DRM FREE - Read whenever, wherever and however you want
OR
Modal Close icon
Payment Processing...
tick Completed

Billing Address

Product Details

Publication date : May 31, 2018
Length: 472 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781788477758
Category :
Languages :
Tools :

Packt Subscriptions

See our plans and pricing
Modal Close icon
€18.99 billed monthly
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Simple pricing, no contract
€189.99 billed annually
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Choose a DRM-free eBook or Video every month to keep
Feature tick icon PLUS own as many other DRM-free eBooks or Videos as you like for just €5 each
Feature tick icon Exclusive print discounts
€264.99 billed in 18 months
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Choose a DRM-free eBook or Video every month to keep
Feature tick icon PLUS own as many other DRM-free eBooks or Videos as you like for just €5 each
Feature tick icon Exclusive print discounts

Frequently bought together


Stars icon
Total 98.97
Hands-On Natural Language Processing with Python
€32.99
Natural Language Processing with TensorFlow
€32.99
Natural Language Processing and Computational Linguistics
€32.99
Total 98.97 Stars icon
Banner background image

Table of Contents

13 Chapters
1. Introduction to Natural Language Processing Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Understanding TensorFlow Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Word2vec – Learning Word Embeddings Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Advanced Word2vec Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Sentence Classification with Convolutional Neural Networks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Recurrent Neural Networks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Long Short-Term Memory Networks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Applications of LSTM – Generating Text Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Applications of LSTM – Image Caption Generation Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
10. Sequence-to-Sequence Learning – Neural Machine Translation Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
11. Current Trends and the Future of Natural Language Processing Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
A. Mathematical Foundations and Advanced TensorFlow Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Top Reviews
Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.5
(10 Ratings)
5 star 80%
4 star 10%
3 star 0%
2 star 0%
1 star 10%
Filter icon Filter
Top Reviews

Filter reviews by




Victor Oct 07, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
With experience in Language Natural Processing I went into this book to introduce myself into TensorFlow. Definitely a good decision. The code is quite easy to follow, examples are useful and well explained. I recommend it.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Deepal Bandaranayake Aug 27, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Natural language processing with Tensorflow is a very well-written book that gives a strong introduction to novel deep learning based NLP systems. With this book I've learned about word vectors, text generation, machine translation which are hot topics flying around at the moment.The book really dives into the details of implementing various NLP systems scanning through various TensorFlow functions involved in a modularized easy-to-follow manner. Each chapter is accompanied with Jupyter notebooks which again provide the full picture of the system end-to-end.If I'm to pick one particular example I liked in the book, I'd say it's the way the author describes the functioning of LSTMs. The author really brings the reader to his world and walk the reader through a easy-to-digest analogy of how an LSTM might operation, without much focus on mathematics. With that graceful entrance, he then continue to explain the LSTM in a mathematical perspective, which I found quite impressive.In conclusion, I genuinely enjoyed the book and think the book is a bang for bucks! I wouldn't hesitate this to another ML enthusiast looking for a good practical view of things!
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Tishan Jun 20, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
This book welcomes the reader to the modern deep learning based natural language processing techniques in a very progressive manner. Furthermore, the book often visualize elusive concepts with simpler explanations and colourful examples. For example, I liked the way Thushan discusses basics of TensorFlow and illustrates the workflow with a colourful example. Moreover, the book touches upon a multitude of NLP applications, providing a very diverse practical exposure to the current NLP solutions. I found the approach with more weight on the practicality and application, Thushan takes very appealing, in understanding the mechanics of various methods.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Amazon Customer Sep 10, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
The content covered in this book is excellent!!But binding quality of the publisher is very very poor. This happened for two books I purchased from Packet.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Shirley Jun 29, 2019
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
it's useful~
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Get free access to Packt library with over 7500+ books and video courses for 7 days!
Start Free Trial

FAQs

How do I buy and download an eBook? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Where there is an eBook version of a title available, you can buy it from the book details for that title. Add either the standalone eBook or the eBook and print book bundle to your shopping cart. Your eBook will show in your cart as a product on its own. After completing checkout and payment in the normal way, you will receive your receipt on the screen containing a link to a personalised PDF download file. This link will remain active for 30 days. You can download backup copies of the file by logging in to your account at any time.

If you already have Adobe reader installed, then clicking on the link will download and open the PDF file directly. If you don't, then save the PDF file on your machine and download the Reader to view it.

Please Note: Packt eBooks are non-returnable and non-refundable.

Packt eBook and Licensing When you buy an eBook from Packt Publishing, completing your purchase means you accept the terms of our licence agreement. Please read the full text of the agreement. In it we have tried to balance the need for the ebook to be usable for you the reader with our needs to protect the rights of us as Publishers and of our authors. In summary, the agreement says:

  • You may make copies of your eBook for your own use onto any machine
  • You may not pass copies of the eBook on to anyone else
How can I make a purchase on your website? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

If you want to purchase a video course, eBook or Bundle (Print+eBook) please follow below steps:

  1. Register on our website using your email address and the password.
  2. Search for the title by name or ISBN using the search option.
  3. Select the title you want to purchase.
  4. Choose the format you wish to purchase the title in; if you order the Print Book, you get a free eBook copy of the same title. 
  5. Proceed with the checkout process (payment to be made using Credit Card, Debit Cart, or PayPal)
Where can I access support around an eBook? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
  • If you experience a problem with using or installing Adobe Reader, the contact Adobe directly.
  • To view the errata for the book, see www.packtpub.com/support and view the pages for the title you have.
  • To view your account details or to download a new copy of the book go to www.packtpub.com/account
  • To contact us directly if a problem is not resolved, use www.packtpub.com/contact-us
What eBook formats do Packt support? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Our eBooks are currently available in a variety of formats such as PDF and ePubs. In the future, this may well change with trends and development in technology, but please note that our PDFs are not Adobe eBook Reader format, which has greater restrictions on security.

You will need to use Adobe Reader v9 or later in order to read Packt's PDF eBooks.

What are the benefits of eBooks? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
  • You can get the information you need immediately
  • You can easily take them with you on a laptop
  • You can download them an unlimited number of times
  • You can print them out
  • They are copy-paste enabled
  • They are searchable
  • There is no password protection
  • They are lower price than print
  • They save resources and space
What is an eBook? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Packt eBooks are a complete electronic version of the print edition, available in PDF and ePub formats. Every piece of content down to the page numbering is the same. Because we save the costs of printing and shipping the book to you, we are able to offer eBooks at a lower cost than print editions.

When you have purchased an eBook, simply login to your account and click on the link in Your Download Area. We recommend you saving the file to your hard drive before opening it.

For optimal viewing of our eBooks, we recommend you download and install the free Adobe Reader version 9.