Short Definition
Deep learning is machine learning with neural networks that learn layered representations from data.
Intuition
Instead of relying mostly on hand-designed features, deep learning stacks many transformations so the model can learn useful representations internally.
Technical Definition
Deep learning uses multi-layer neural networks trained with gradient-based optimization to learn hierarchical representations for prediction, generation, or control.
Example
A vision model learns low-level edges in early layers and more complex object features in later layers.
Common Misunderstandings
Deep learning is not always the best tool for small or structured datasets.
Depth increases capacity but also increases training and evaluation complexity.