What is feature engineering?

Feature engineering is a process within machine learning that transforms raw data into features that a machine can recognize as part of the problem to be solved. It's a way of manually improving the observations and variables that a machine is learning based upon the data that you have. Features are tables that consist of the variables and observations that are meaningful to the problem you're trying to solve. Feature engineering consists of determining which features work best with the problem you're solving, creating the features, checking how the features work, and improving them.

Why is it important to learn feature engineering?

It's important to learn about the process of feature engineering because it can influence the result of solving a problem better than relying on algorithms alone, which means you can better solve problems based on the data that you have. When you use feature engineering properly, you can exert a positive influence on the results you achieve from the data that you're working with. To put it simply, the better features you put into the machine, the better problem solutions you'll see as a result. That's where a thorough knowledge of feature engineering comes in. The better you are at inputting features, the better you'll be at making the most of your data.

What are careers that rely on knowledge of feature engineering?

Data analysts and engineers call upon their knowledge of feature engineering in their careers. Engineers in a host of disciplines analyze, clean, and improve the data that they work with every day, and you'll find data specialists who work with feature engineering in fields as vast as healthcare, aerospace, and defense. The growing fields of mobile gaming and e-commerce also hire feature engineers to better analyze the data that they depend on.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn feature engineering?

Whether you're looking to learn the basics of feature engineering or acquire more advanced knowledge, taking online courses on Coursera and partners like IBM and Google can help you learn the concepts and practical applications of feature engineering. You can learn about how feature engineering works in certain applications like Google Cloud or MATLAB or aim for a specialized certificate. No matter which of the feature engineering courses you choose to take, you'll have the opportunity to learn new skills that may be beneficial to your career.

What are the benefits of taking an online Feature Engineering course?

Online Feature Engineering courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Feature Engineering skills. Choose from a wide range of Feature Engineering courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Feature Engineering courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Feature Engineering, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Feature Engineering Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Feature Engineering Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Feature Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Dataflow, Tensorflow, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Data Pipelines, Keras (Neural Network Library), Data Processing, Data Transformation, Data Modeling, Real Time Data, Machine Learning
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Generative AI: Prompt Engineering Basics
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Large Language Modeling, IBM Cloud
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Vanderbilt University
Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, Productivity, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Modeling, Creative Thinking, Ingenuity, Brainstorming, Problem Solving, Application Development, Collaboration
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Multiple educators
Machine Learning
Skills you'll gain: Unsupervised Learning, Supervised Learning, Machine Learning Methods, Classification And Regression Tree (CART), Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Applied Machine Learning, Machine Learning Algorithms, Machine Learning, Jupyter, Data Ethics, Decision Tree Learning, Tensorflow, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Artificial Intelligence, NumPy, Predictive Modeling, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Random Forest Algorithm, Feature Engineering
Build toward a degree
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
35K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM AI Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Unsupervised Learning, Generative AI, Supervised Learning, Keras (Neural Network Library), Feature Engineering, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Generative AI Agents, Applied Machine Learning, Image Analysis, Data Manipulation, Natural Language Processing, Tensorflow, Artificial Neural Networks, Machine Learning, Python Programming, Data Science
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
21K reviews
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
AI Workflow: Feature Engineering and Bias Detection
Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Data Ethics, Unsupervised Learning, Dimensionality Reduction, Text Mining, Applied Machine Learning, Data Transformation, Anomaly Detection, Exploratory Data Analysis, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Data Science, Quality Assurance, Data Validation, Machine Learning Algorithms, Data Visualization, Python Programming
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
74 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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Status: Free Trial
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Software Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Software Design Patterns, Requirements Analysis, Software Architecture, Acceptance Testing, Software Development Methodologies, Unified Modeling Language, Software Development Life Cycle, Configuration Management, Software Quality Assurance, Debugging, Software Design, Process Driven Development, Software Engineering, Software Testing, Object Oriented Design, Functional Requirement, Data Modeling, Systems Design, Project Management, Project Planning
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
521 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Feature Engineering en Español
Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Tensorflow, Data Pipelines, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Keras (Neural Network Library), Data Transformation, Data Processing, Data Modeling, Machine Learning, Python Programming
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
37 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
IBM
IBM Generative AI Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, Predictive Modeling, Unsupervised Learning, PyTorch (Machine Learning Library), Generative AI, ChatGPT, Supervised Learning, Keras (Neural Network Library), Flask (Web Framework), Exploratory Data Analysis, Feature Engineering, Data Wrangling, Unit Testing, Deep Learning, Data Analysis, Jupyter, Generative AI Agents, Data Import/Export, Applied Machine Learning
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
89K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free
DeepLearning.AI
ChatGPT Prompt Engineering for Developers
Skills you'll gain: ChatGPT, Prompt Engineering, OpenAI, Large Language Modeling, Generative AI, Application Programming Interface (API), Application Development, Jupyter
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Beginner · Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Google
Google Prompting Essentials
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Prompt Engineering, Data Presentation, Graphing, Generative AI Agents, ChatGPT, AI Personalization, Generative AI, Timelines, Data Analysis, Taking Meeting Minutes, Artificial Intelligence, Complex Problem Solving, Ideation, Business Correspondence, Report Writing, Solution Design, Critical Thinking, Document Management, Machine Learning
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Introduction to Software Engineering
Skills you'll gain: Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Software Design, Scrum (Software Development), Software Engineering, Software Design Patterns, Agile Methodology, Software Development, Programming Principles, Application Development, Cloud Development, Web Development, Back-End Web Development, Front-End Web Development, Computer Programming, Integrated Development Environments, Python Programming
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3.6K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months