Data mining can be viewed as a result of the natural evolution of information technology. This book is an introduction to a young and promising field called data mining and knowledge discovery from data. The material in this book is presented from a database perspective, where emphasis is placed on basic data mining concepts and techniques for uncovering interesting data patterns hidden in large data sets. The implementation methods discussed are particularly oriented toward the development of scalable and efficient data mining tools. It then covers in a chapter-by-chapter tour the concepts and techniques that underlie classification, prediction, association, and clustering. An important motivation for writing this book was the need to build an organized framework for the study of data mining—a challenging task, owing to the extensive multidisciplinary nature of this fast-developing field. We hope that this book will encourage people with different backgrounds and experiences to exchange their views regarding data mining so as to contribute toward the further promotion and shaping of this exciting and dynamic field.