chainer.dataset.concat_examples

chainer.dataset.concat_examples(batch, device=None, padding=None)

Concatenates a list of examples into array(s).

Dataset iterator yields a list of examples. If each example is an array, this function concatenates them along the newly-inserted first axis (called batch dimension) into one array. The basic behavior is same for examples consisting of multiple arrays, i.e., corresponding arrays of all examples are concatenated.

For instance, consider each example consists of two arrays (x, y). Then, this function concatenates x ‘s into one array, and y ‘s into another array, and returns a tuple of these two arrays. Another example: consider each example is a dictionary of two entries whose keys are 'x' and 'y', respectively, and values are arrays. Then, this function concatenates x ‘s into one array, and y ‘s into another array, and returns a dictionary with two entries x and y whose values are the concatenated arrays.

When the arrays to concatenate have different shapes, the behavior depends on the padding value. If padding is None (default), it raises an error. Otherwise, it builds an array of the minimum shape that the contents of all arrays can be substituted to. The padding value is then used to the extra elements of the resulting arrays.

TODO(beam2d): Add an example.

Parameters:

• batch (list) – A list of examples. This is typically given by a dataset iterator.
• device (int) – Device ID to which each array is sent. Negative value indicates the host memory (CPU). If it is omitted, all arrays are left in the original device.
• padding – Scalar value for extra elements. If this is None (default), an error is raised on shape mismatch. Otherwise, an array of minimum dimensionalities that can accommodate all arrays is created, and elements outside of the examples are padded by this value.

Returns:

Array, a tuple of arrays, or a dictionary of arrays. The type depends on the type of each example in the batch.