人工神经网络（artificial neural network，缩写ANN），简称神经网络（neural network，缩写NN）或类神经网络，是一种模仿生物神经网络(动物的中枢神经系统，特别是大脑)的结构和功能的数学模型或计算模型。神经网络由大量的人工神经元联结进行计算。大多数情况下人工神经网络能在外界信息的基础上改变内部结构，是一种自适应系统。现代神经网络是一种非线性统计性数据建模工具，常用来对输入和输出间复杂的关系进行建模，或用来探索数据的模式。

神经网络是一种运算模型，由大量的节点（或称“神经元”，或“单元”）和之间相互联接构成。每个节点代表一种特定的输出函数，称为激励函数（activation function）。每两个节点间的连接都代表一个对于通过该连接信号的加权值，称之为权重（weight），这相当于人工神经网络的记忆。网络的输出则依网络的连接方式，权重值和激励函数的不同而不同。而网络自身通常都是对自然界某种算法或者函数的逼近，也可能是对一种逻辑策略的表达。

In machine learning and cognitive science, artificial neural networks (ANNs) are a family of models inspired by biological neural networks (the central nervous systems of animals, in particular the brain) which are used to estimate or approximate functions that can depend on a large number of inputs and are generally unknown. Artificial neural networks are generally presented as systems of interconnected "neurons" which exchange messages between each other. The connections have numeric weights that can be tuned based on experience, making neural nets adaptive to inputs and capable of learning.