tf.data.Dataset

TensorFlow 1 version

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Represents a potentially large set of elements.

tf.data.Dataset(
    variant_tensor
)

The tf.data.Dataset API supports writing descriptive and efficient input pipelines. Dataset usage follows a common pattern:

1. Create a source dataset from your input data.
2. Apply dataset transformations to preprocess the data.
3. Iterate over the dataset and process the elements.

Iteration happens in a streaming fashion, so the full dataset does not need to fit into memory.

Source Datasets:

The simplest way to create a dataset is to create it from a python list:

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices([1, 2, 3])
for element in dataset:
  print(element)
tf.Tensor(1, shape=(), dtype=int32)
tf.Tensor(2, shape=(), dtype=int32)
tf.Tensor(3, shape=(), dtype=int32)

To process lines from files, use tf.data.TextLineDataset:

dataset = tf.data.TextLineDataset(["file1.txt", "file2.txt"])

To process records written in the TFRecord format, use TFRecordDataset:

dataset = tf.data.TFRecordDataset(["file1.tfrecords", "file2.tfrecords"])

To create a dataset of all files matching a pattern, use tf.data.Dataset.list_files:

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.list_files("/path/*.txt")  # doctest: +SKIP

See tf.data.FixedLengthRecordDataset and tf.data.Dataset.from_generator for more ways to create datasets.

Transformations:

Once you have a dataset, you can apply transformations to prepare the data for your model:

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices([1, 2, 3])
dataset = dataset.map(lambda x: x*2)
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[2, 4, 6]

Common Terms:

Element: A single output from calling next() on a dataset iterator. Elements may be nested structures containing multiple components. For example, the element (1, (3, "apple")) has one tuple nested in another tuple. The components are 1, 3, and "apple". Component: The leaf in the nested structure of an element.

Supported types:

Elements can be nested structures of tuples, named tuples, and dictionaries. Element components can be of any type representable by tf.TypeSpec, including tf.Tensor, tf.data.Dataset, tf.SparseTensor, tf.RaggedTensor, and tf.TensorArray.

a = 1 # Integer element
b = 2.0 # Float element
c = (1, 2) # Tuple element with 2 components
d = {"a": (2, 2), "b": 3} # Dict element with 3 components
Point = collections.namedtuple("Point", ["x", "y"]) # doctest: +SKIP
e = Point(1, 2) # Named tuple # doctest: +SKIP
f = tf.data.Dataset.range(10) # Dataset element

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices([1, 2, 3]).element_spec
TensorSpec(shape=(), dtype=tf.int32, name=None)

Methods

apply

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apply(
    transformation_func
)

Applies a transformation function to this dataset.

apply enables chaining of custom Dataset transformations, which are represented as functions that take one Dataset argument and return a transformed Dataset.

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.range(100)
def dataset_fn(ds):
  return ds.filter(lambda x: x < 5)
dataset = dataset.apply(dataset_fn)
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[0, 1, 2, 3, 4]

as_numpy_iterator

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as_numpy_iterator()

Returns an iterator which converts all elements of the dataset to numpy.

Use as_numpy_iterator to inspect the content of your dataset. To see element shapes and types, print dataset elements directly instead of using as_numpy_iterator.

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices([1, 2, 3])
for element in dataset:
  print(element)
tf.Tensor(1, shape=(), dtype=int32)
tf.Tensor(2, shape=(), dtype=int32)
tf.Tensor(3, shape=(), dtype=int32)

This method requires that you are running in eager mode and the dataset's element_spec contains only TensorSpec components.

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices([1, 2, 3])
for element in dataset.as_numpy_iterator():
  print(element)
1
2
3

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices([1, 2, 3])
print(list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator()))
[1, 2, 3]

as_numpy_iterator() will preserve the nested structure of dataset elements.

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices({'a': ([1, 2], [3, 4]),
                                              'b': [5, 6]})
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator()) == [{'a': (1, 3), 'b': 5},
                                      {'a': (2, 4), 'b': 6}]
True

batch

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batch(
    batch_size, drop_remainder=False
)

Combines consecutive elements of this dataset into batches.

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.range(8)
dataset = dataset.batch(3)
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[array([0, 1, 2]), array([3, 4, 5]), array([6, 7])]

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.range(8)
dataset = dataset.batch(3, drop_remainder=True)
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[array([0, 1, 2]), array([3, 4, 5])]

The components of the resulting element will have an additional outer dimension, which will be batch_size (or N % batch_size for the last element if batch_size does not divide the number of input elements N evenly and drop_remainder is False). If your program depends on the batches having the same outer dimension, you should set the drop_remainder argument to True to prevent the smaller batch from being produced.

cache

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cache(
    filename=''
)

Caches the elements in this dataset.

The first time the dataset is iterated over, its elements will be cached either in the specified file or in memory. Subsequent iterations will use the cached data.

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.range(5)
dataset = dataset.map(lambda x: x**2)
dataset = dataset.cache()
# The first time reading through the data will generate the data using
# `range` and `map`.
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[0, 1, 4, 9, 16]
# Subsequent iterations read from the cache.
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[0, 1, 4, 9, 16]

When caching to a file, the cached data will persist across runs. Even the first iteration through the data will read from the cache file. Changing the input pipeline before the call to .cache() will have no effect until the cache file is removed or the filename is changed.

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.range(5)
dataset = dataset.cache("/path/to/file")  # doctest: +SKIP
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())  # doctest: +SKIP
[0, 1, 2, 3, 4]
dataset = tf.data.Dataset.range(10)
dataset = dataset.cache("/path/to/file")  # Same file! # doctest: +SKIP
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())  # doctest: +SKIP
[0, 1, 2, 3, 4]

concatenate

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concatenate(
    dataset
)

Creates a Dataset by concatenating the given dataset with this dataset.

a = tf.data.Dataset.range(1, 4)  # ==> [ 1, 2, 3 ]
b = tf.data.Dataset.range(4, 8)  # ==> [ 4, 5, 6, 7 ]
ds = a.concatenate(b)
list(ds.as_numpy_iterator())
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
# The input dataset and dataset to be concatenated should have the same
# nested structures and output types.
c = tf.data.Dataset.zip((a, b))
a.concatenate(c)
Traceback (most recent call last):
TypeError: Two datasets to concatenate have different types
<dtype: 'int64'> and (tf.int64, tf.int64)
d = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices(["a", "b", "c"])
a.concatenate(d)
Traceback (most recent call last):
TypeError: Two datasets to concatenate have different types
<dtype: 'int64'> and <dtype: 'string'>

enumerate

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enumerate(
    start=0
)

Enumerates the elements of this dataset.

It is similar to python's enumerate.

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices([1, 2, 3])
dataset = dataset.enumerate(start=5)
for element in dataset.as_numpy_iterator():
  print(element)
(5, 1)
(6, 2)
(7, 3)

# The nested structure of the input dataset determines the structure of
# elements in the resulting dataset.
dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices([(7, 8), (9, 10)])
dataset = dataset.enumerate()
for element in dataset.as_numpy_iterator():
  print(element)
(0, array([7, 8], dtype=int32))
(1, array([ 9, 10], dtype=int32))

filter

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filter(
    predicate
)

Filters this dataset according to predicate.

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices([1, 2, 3])
dataset = dataset.filter(lambda x: x < 3)
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[1, 2]
# `tf.math.equal(x, y)` is required for equality comparison
def filter_fn(x):
  return tf.math.equal(x, 1)
dataset = dataset.filter(filter_fn)
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[1]

flat_map

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flat_map(
    map_func
)

Maps map_func across this dataset and flattens the result.

Use flat_map if you want to make sure that the order of your dataset stays the same. For example, to flatten a dataset of batches into a dataset of their elements:

dataset = Dataset.from_tensor_slices([[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9]])
dataset = dataset.flat_map(lambda x: Dataset.from_tensor_slices(x))
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

tf.data.Dataset.interleave() is a generalization of flat_map, since flat_map produces the same output as tf.data.Dataset.interleave(cycle_length=1)

from_generator

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@staticmethod
from_generator(
    generator, output_types, output_shapes=None, args=None
)

Creates a Dataset whose elements are generated by generator.

The generator argument must be a callable object that returns an object that supports the iter() protocol (e.g. a generator function). The elements generated by generator must be compatible with the given output_types and (optional) output_shapes arguments.

import itertools

def gen():
  for i in itertools.count(1):
    yield (i, [1] * i)

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_generator(
     gen,
     (tf.int64, tf.int64),
     (tf.TensorShape([]), tf.TensorShape([None])))

list(dataset.take(3).as_numpy_iterator())
[(1, array([1])), (2, array([1, 1])), (3, array([1, 1, 1]))]

from_tensor_slices

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@staticmethod
from_tensor_slices(
    tensors
)

Creates a Dataset whose elements are slices of the given tensors.

The given tensors are sliced along their first dimension. This operation preserves the structure of the input tensors, removing the first dimension of each tensor and using it as the dataset dimension. All input tensors must have the same size in their first dimensions.

# Slicing a 1D tensor produces scalar tensor elements.
dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices([1, 2, 3])
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[1, 2, 3]

# Slicing a 2D tensor produces 1D tensor elements.
dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices([[1, 2], [3, 4]])
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[array([1, 2], dtype=int32), array([3, 4], dtype=int32)]

# Slicing a tuple of 1D tensors produces tuple elements containing
# scalar tensors.
dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices(([1, 2], [3, 4], [5, 6]))
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[(1, 3, 5), (2, 4, 6)]

# Dictionary structure is also preserved.
dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices({"a": [1, 2], "b": [3, 4]})
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator()) == [{'a': 1, 'b': 3},
                                      {'a': 2, 'b': 4}]
True

# Two tensors can be combined into one Dataset object.
features = tf.constant([[1, 3], [2, 1], [3, 3]]) # ==> 3x2 tensor
labels = tf.constant(['A', 'B', 'A']) # ==> 3x1 tensor
dataset = Dataset.from_tensor_slices((features, labels))
# Both the features and the labels tensors can be converted
# to a Dataset object separately and combined after.
features_dataset = Dataset.from_tensor_slices(features)
labels_dataset = Dataset.from_tensor_slices(labels)
dataset = Dataset.zip((features_dataset, labels_dataset))
# A batched feature and label set can be converted to a Dataset
# in similar fashion.
batched_features = tf.constant([[[1, 3], [2, 3]],
                                [[2, 1], [1, 2]],
                                [[3, 3], [3, 2]]], shape=(3, 2, 2))
batched_labels = tf.constant([['A', 'A'],
                              ['B', 'B'],
                              ['A', 'B']], shape=(3, 2, 1))
dataset = Dataset.from_tensor_slices((batched_features, batched_labels))
for element in dataset.as_numpy_iterator():
  print(element)
(array([[1, 3],
       [2, 3]], dtype=int32), array([[b'A'],
       [b'A']], dtype=object))
(array([[2, 1],
       [1, 2]], dtype=int32), array([[b'B'],
       [b'B']], dtype=object))
(array([[3, 3],
       [3, 2]], dtype=int32), array([[b'A'],
       [b'B']], dtype=object))

Note that if tensors contains a NumPy array, and eager execution is not enabled, the values will be embedded in the graph as one or more tf.constant operations. For large datasets (> 1 GB), this can waste memory and run into byte limits of graph serialization. If tensors contains one or more large NumPy arrays, consider the alternative described in this guide.

from_tensors

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@staticmethod
from_tensors(
    tensors
)

Creates a Dataset with a single element, comprising the given tensors.

from_tensors produces a dataset containing only a single element. To slice the input tensor into multiple elements, use from_tensor_slices instead.

dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensors([1, 2, 3])
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[array([1, 2, 3], dtype=int32)]
dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensors(([1, 2, 3], 'A'))
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[(array([1, 2, 3], dtype=int32), b'A')]

# You can use `from_tensors` to produce a dataset which repeats
# the same example many times.
example = tf.constant([1,2,3])
dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensors(example).repeat(2)
list(dataset.as_numpy_iterator())
[array([1, 2, 3], dtype=int32), array([1, 2, 3], dtype=int32)]

Note that if tensors contains a NumPy array, and eager execution is not enabled, the values will be embedded in the graph as one or more tf.constant operations. For large datasets (> 1 GB), this can waste memory and run into byte limits of graph serialization. If tensors contains one or more large NumPy arrays, consider the alternative described in this guide.

interleave

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interleave(
    map_func, cycle_length=AUTOTUNE, block_length=1, num_parallel_calls=None,
    deterministic=None
)

Maps map_func across this dataset, and interleaves the results.

For example, you can use D