Tokenizer
Also known as: Tokenization, Token Encoding
In one sentence
A tool that breaks text into smaller pieces (tokens) that an AI model can process. Different models use different tokenizers, affecting how they count and understand text.
Explain like I'm 12
It's like cutting a sandwich into bite-sized pieces so you can eat it. The tokenizer cuts your text into little chunks (tokens) so the AI can 'digest' and understand it.
In context
Example: 'Hello world' might become 2 tokens ('Hello' and ' world'), or 1 token ('Hello world'), or even 3 tokens ('Hel', 'lo', ' world') depending on the tokenizer. This affects costs since APIs charge per token.
See also
Related Guides
Learn more about Tokenizer in these guides:
Token Economics: Understanding AI Costs
IntermediateAI APIs charge per token. Learn how tokens work, how to estimate costs, and how to optimize spending.
6 min readNatural Language Processing: How AI Understands Text
IntermediateNLP is how AI reads, understands, and generates human language. Learn the techniques behind chatbots, translation, and text analysis.
8 min readHow Chatbots Work (No Math Required)
BeginnerDemystifying conversational AI. Learn how chatbots understand your questions and generate responses—without getting lost in algorithms.
8 min read