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How do you scale numerical features and encode categorical features?

Preprocessing quietly decides whether a model trains well, and the right choice is model-dependent. The signal is knowing when scaling matters versus when it is wasted effort, and how to encode a feature with thousands of categories without blowing up your matrix.

Updated Aug 2026 · Grounded in real Applied AI Engineer interview loops and written to a senior-engineer editorial bar.

Preprocessing quietly decides whether a model trains well, and the right choice is model-dependent. The signal is knowing when scaling matters versus when it is wasted effort, and how to encode a feature with thousands of categories without blowing up your matrix.

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