Beginning Anomaly Detection Using

CHAPTER 1

What Is Anomaly 

Detection?

In this chapter, you will learn about anomalies in general, the categories of anomalies, 

and anomaly detection. You will also learn why anomaly detection is important and how 

anomalies can be detected and the use case for such a mechanism.

In a nutshell, the following topics will be covered throughout this chapter:

•  What is an anomaly?

•  Categories of different anomalies

•  What is anomaly detection?

•  Where is anomaly detection used?

 What Is an Anomaly?

Before you get started with learning about anomaly detection, you must first understand 

exactly what you are targeting. Generally, an 

anomaly is an outcome or value that 

deviates from what is expected, but the exact criteria for what determines an anomaly 

can vary from situation to situation.