juniorSVM
What is a support vector?
Updated May 17, 2026
Short answer
Support vectors are the data points closest to the decision boundary.
Deep explanation
They are critical points that influence the position and orientation of the hyperplane. Removing them changes the model boundary.
Real-world example
In handwriting recognition, edge cases define the decision boundary.
Common mistakes
- Thinking all data points affect the hyperplane equally.
Follow-up questions
- What happens if support vectors change?
- Are support vectors always few?