Usage of KNN

The KNN algorithm can compete with the most accurate models because it makes highly accurate predictions. Therefore, you can use the KNN algorithm for applications that require high accuracy but that do not require a human-readable model.

The quality of the predictions depends on the distance measure. Therefore, the KNN algorithm is suitable for applications for which sufficient domain knowledge is available. This knowledge supports the selection of an appropriate measure.

The KNN algorithm is a type of lazy learning, where the computation for the generation of the predictions is deferred until classification. Although this method increases the costs of computation compared to other algorithms, KNN is still the better choice for applications where predictions are not requested frequently but where accuracy is important.