midKeras
What is the difference between Sequential and Functional API in Keras?
Updated May 16, 2026
Short answer
Sequential is linear; Functional API supports complex architectures.
Deep explanation
Functional API allows multiple inputs/outputs, shared layers, and DAG-style networks.
Real-world example
Used in multi-modal models combining image and text inputs.
Common mistakes
- Using Sequential for complex architectures.
Follow-up questions
- When to use Functional API?
- Can both APIs be mixed?