# Does Zygote differentiate symbolically?

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/does-zygote-differentiate-symbolically/96528>\
**Category:** Machine Learning\
**Tags:** question, differentiation, zygote\
**Created:** [March 23, 2023, 6:40pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/does-zygote-differentiate-symbolically/96528 "2023-03-23T18:40:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 7

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**Author:** ![zdenek\_hurak](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/zdenek_hurak/32/53118_2.png) [@zdenek\_hurak](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/zdenek_hurak)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/does-zygote-differentiate-symbolically/96528/7 "2023-03-24T16:49:28Z")

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> [@Euhan](#):
>
> In my mind, I imagined that differentiation could be done symbolically or numerically, and that automatic differentiation obviated the need to do it oneself by doing one of them.

This is why I prefer the other interpretation of the AD abbreviation – **Algorithmic Differentiation**. I think it better reflects the essence than **Automatic differentiation**. Anyway, AD is distinct both from symbolic and numerical differentiation [Simple numerical differentiation - #5 by zdenek\_hurak](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/simple-numerical-differentiation/52254/5).

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