midNumPy
What is array flattening in NumPy?
Updated May 17, 2026
Short answer
Flattening converts multi-dimensional arrays into 1D arrays.
Deep explanation
flatten returns a copy while ravel returns a view when possible, affecting memory usage and performance.
Real-world example
Preparing data for machine learning models.
Common mistakes
- Assuming flatten and ravel behave identically.
Follow-up questions
- Which is faster, flatten or ravel?
- Does flatten modify original array?