Big Data Classification: Applications and Challenges

In the era of Big Data, a massive amount of data is generated and collected, continually, from various sources. To use these data for their optimum value, i.e. to uncover correlations, hidden patterns and other valuable insights, they need to be processed methodically. Classification is an essential aspect of that. Data classification is a process of categorizing data sets by features. It is crucial for knowledge discovery and intelligent decision-making. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of applications and challenges of Big Data classification. To begin with, the potentials and problems of Big Data are meticulously discussed. Along with mentioning the basics of Big Data classification, several real-world application areas of Big Data classification, including health care, user data analysis, network traffic analysis, etc., are elaborately reviewed. The challenges in Big Data classifications are identified, explicated and surveyed with pertinent details.