1. What is overfitting?
Overfitting occurs when a machine learning model becomes too complex and captures noise or random fluctuations in the training data, rather than the underlying patterns and relationships. As a result, the model may fail to generalize well to new data.

2. Why is overfitting a problem?
Overfitting is a problem because it compromises the performance and reliability of a machine learning model. The model may have excellent accuracy on the training data, but it performs poorly on new, unseen data, leading to poor generalization and limited practical usefulness.

3. What causes overfitting?
Overfitting can be caused by several factors, including an excessively complex model with too many parameters relative to the available training data, noisy or irrelevant features in the data, or inadequate regularization techniques that fail to control the model's complexity.

4. What are the consequences of overfitting?
The consequences of overfitting include reduced model performance on new data, increased sensitivity to noise in the training data, and a higher likelihood of incorrect predictions or unreliable estimates. Overfitting can lead to poor decision-making and undermine the usefulness of the model in real-world applications.

5. How can overfitting be detected?
Overfitting can be detected by evaluating the model's performance on a separate validation or test dataset that was not used during training. If the model performs significantly worse on the validation or test data compared to the training data, it may indicate overfitting.

6. How can overfitting be prevented or mitigated?
To prevent or mitigate overfitting, several techniques can be employed. These include collecting more training data to provide a broader representation of the underlying patterns, simplifying the model structure or reducing the number of parameters, applying regularization techniques such as L1 or L2 regularization, using cross-validation to assess model performance, and employing ensemble methods that combine multiple models to reduce overfitting.

7. What are the trade-offs in addressing overfitting?
Addressing overfitting involves finding a balance between model complexity and generalization performance. Simplifying the model or applying stronger regularization techniques can help mitigate overfitting but may result in a slight decrease in training performance. Striking the right balance ensures that the model captures the underlying patterns while avoiding the capture of noise or irrelevant details.