Kernel may refer to:

Computing

Kernel (operating system) A kernel is a computer program at the core of a computer's operating system that always has complete control over everything in the system. The kernel is also responsible for preventing and mitigating conflicts between different processes. It is ...

, the central component of most operating systems *

Kernel (image processing) In image processing, a kernel, convolution matrix, or mask is a small matrix used for blurring, sharpening, embossing, edge detection, and more. This is accomplished by doing a convolution between the kernel and an image An image or pic ...

, a matrix used for image convolution *

Compute kernel In computing, a compute kernel is a routine compiled for high throughput accelerators (such as graphics processing units (GPUs), digital signal processors (DSPs) or field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)), separate from but used by a main pro ...

, in GPGPU programming *

Kernel method In machine learning, kernel machines are a class of algorithms for pattern analysis, whose best known member is the support-vector machine (SVM). These methods involve using linear classifiers to solve nonlinear problems. The general task of patt ...

, in machine learning *

Kernelization In computer science, a kernelization is a technique for designing efficient algorithms that achieve their efficiency by a preprocessing stage in which inputs to the algorithm are replaced by a smaller input, called a "kernel". The result of solvi ...

, a technique for designing efficient algorithms ** Kernel, a routine that is executed in a vectorized loop, for example in

general-purpose computing on graphics processing units General-purpose computing on graphics processing units (GPGPU, or less often GPGP) is the use of a graphics processing unit (GPU), which typically handles computation only for computer graphics, to perform computation in applications traditional ...

KERNAL KERNAL is Commodore's name for the ROM-resident operating system core in its 8-bit home computers; from the original PET of 1977, followed by the extended but related versions used in its successors: the VIC-20, Commodore 64, Plus/4, Commodore ...

, the Commodore operating system

Mathematics

Objects

Kernel (algebra) In algebra, the kernel of a homomorphism is the relation describing how elements in the domain of the homomorphism become related in the image. A homomorphism is a function that preserves the underlying algebraic structure in the domain to it ...

, a general concept that includes: **

Kernel (linear algebra) In mathematics, the kernel of a linear map, also known as the null space or nullspace, is the part of the domain which is mapped to the zero vector of the co-domain; the kernel is always a linear subspace of the domain. That is, given a linear ...

or null space, a set of vectors mapped to the zero vector **

Kernel (category theory) In category theory and its applications to other branches of mathematics, kernels are a generalization of the kernels of group homomorphisms, the kernels of module homomorphisms and certain other kernel (algebra), kernels from algebra. Intuitive ...

, a generalization of the kernel of a homomorphism **

Kernel (set theory) In set theory, the kernel of a function f (or equivalence kernel.) may be taken to be either * the equivalence relation on the function's domain that roughly expresses the idea of "equivalent as far as the function f can tell",. or * the cor ...

, an equivalence relation: partition by image under a function **

Difference kernel In mathematics, an equaliser is a set of arguments where two or more functions have equal values. An equaliser is the solution set of an equation. In certain contexts, a difference kernel is the equaliser of exactly two functions. Definitions ...

, a binary equalizer: the kernel of the difference of two functions

Functions

Kernel (geometry) In geometry, a star-shaped polygon is a polygonal region in the plane that is a star domain, that is, a polygon that contains a point from which the entire polygon boundary is Visibility polygon, visible. Formally, a polygon is star-shaped if ...

, the set of points within a polygon from which the whole polygon boundary is visible *

Kernel (statistics) The term kernel is used in statistics, statistical analysis to refer to a window function. The term "kernel" has several distinct meanings in different branches of statistics. Bayesian statistics In statistics, especially in Bayesian statistics ...

, a weighting function used in kernel density estimation to estimate the probability density function of a random variable *

Integral kernel In mathematics, an integral transform is a type of transform (mathematics), transform that maps a function (mathematics), function from its original function space into another function space via integral, integration, where some of the propert ...

or kernel function, a function of two variables that defines an integral transform *

Heat kernel In the mathematical study of heat conduction and diffusion, a heat kernel is the fundamental solution to the heat equation on a specified domain with appropriate boundary conditions. It is also one of the main tools in the study of the spectrum ...

, the fundamental solution to the heat equation on a specified domain *

Convolution kernel In mathematics (in particular, functional analysis), convolution is a mathematical operation on two functions f and g that produces a third function f*g, as the integral of the product of the two functions after one is reflected about the y-ax ...

Stochastic kernel In probability theory, a Markov kernel (also known as a stochastic kernel or probability kernel) is a map that in the general theory of Markov processes plays the role that the transition matrix does in the theory of Markov processes with a finit ...

, the transition function of a stochastic process *

Transition kernel In the mathematics of probability, a transition kernel or kernel is a function in mathematics that has different applications. Kernels can for example be used to define random measures or stochastic processes. The most important example of kernels ...

, a generalization of a stochastic kernel * Pricing kernel, the stochastic discount factor used in mathematical finance *

Positive-definite kernel In operator theory, a branch of mathematics, a positive-definite kernel is a generalization of a positive-definite function or a positive-definite matrix. It was first introduced by James Mercer in the early 20th century, in the context of solvi ...

, a generalization of a positive-definite matrix *

Kernel trick In machine learning, kernel machines are a class of algorithms for pattern analysis, whose best known member is the support-vector machine (SVM). These methods involve using linear classifiers to solve nonlinear problems. The general task of pa ...

, in statistics *

Reproducing kernel Hilbert space In functional analysis, a reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) is a Hilbert space of functions in which point evaluation is a continuous linear functional. Specifically, a Hilbert space H of functions from a set X (to \mathbb or \mathbb) is ...

Science

Seed In botany, a seed is a plant structure containing an embryo and stored nutrients in a protective coat called a ''testa''. More generally, the term "seed" means anything that can be Sowing, sown, which may include seed and husk or tuber. Seeds ...

, inside the nut of most plants or the fruitstone of drupes, especially: **

Apricot kernel An apricot kernel is the apricot seed located within the fruit endocarp, which forms a hard shell around the seed called the pyrena (stone or pit). The kernel contains amygdalin, a poisonous compound, in concentrations that vary between cultiv ...

Corn kernel Corn kernels are the fruits of Maize, corn (called maize in many countries). Maize is a grain, and the kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable or a source of starch. The kernel comprise endosperm, Germ (grain), germ, pericarp, and tip cap. ...

Palm kernel The palm kernel is the edible seed of the oil palm fruit. The fruit yields two distinct oils: palm oil derived from the outer parts of the fruit, and palm kernel oil derived from the kernel. The pulp left after oil is rendered from the kernel ...

** Wheat kernel *

Atomic nucleus The atomic nucleus is the small, dense region consisting of protons and neutrons at the center of an atom, discovered in 1911 by Ernest Rutherford at the Department_of_Physics_and_Astronomy,_University_of_Manchester , University of Manchester ...

, the center of an atom

Companies

Kernel (agriculture company) Kernel Holding S.A. () is the largest producer of sunflower oil in Ukraine. It operates under the brands ''Shchedry Dar'', ''Stozhar'' and ''Chumak Zolota'', exports oils and grain worldwide, and provides storage for grains and seeds. It produce ...

, a Ukrainian producer of sunflower oil *

Kernel (neurotechnology company) HI, LLC, doing business as Kernel, is an American company that has developed a non-invasive neuroimaging technology. It is a privately held company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The company was founded in 2016 by Bryan Johnson. His ...

, a developer of neural interfaces * The Kernel Brewery, a craft brewery in London * '' The Kernel'', an Internet culture website, now part of ''The Daily Dot''

Other uses

* ''Kernel'' (EP), by the band Seam * Kernel Fleck, a character in ''The Demonata'' series of books * Brigitte Kernel (born 1959), French journalist and writer