Intermediate · Research
Crossover
Visual diagram · (in preparation) · Math · (in preparation) · Worked example · 3 difficulty levels.
TL;DR. Crossover, or recombination, is a genetic operator in evolutionary computation that combines genetic information from two parent solutions to create new offspring solutions.
Technical Definition
Crossover, or recombination, is a genetic operator in evolutionary computation that combines genetic information from two parent solutions to create new offspring solutions.
How it works
In genetic algorithms and evolutionary computation, crossover is a key operator analogous to biological reproduction. It involves selecting two parent solutions and combining parts of their 'genetic material' (their representations) to create one or more new offspring solutions. This process helps explore new areas of the solution space and generate diversity within the population.
Related Concepts
- Optimization — The mathematical process of finding parameter values that minimize a loss function.
- Evolutionary computation — A family of optimization algorithms that mimic biological evolution to solve problems.
- Genetic algorithm (GA) — An optimization technique inspired by natural selection, using processes like mutation and crossover to find solutions to complex problems.