Why tokenize?
Neural nets cannot ingest raw text. Tokenization converts text into numeric IDs aligned with a training vocabulary so the network can look up embeddings.
This single-page workshop helps teammates see how language models break text into tokens and how a generation loop stitches them back together. Swap strategies, follow the pipeline, and narrate what each stage does.
Tokens are the morsels a model can actually understand. They are rarely whole words; instead, think characters, chunks, and punctuation cooked into a consistent vocabulary. The mock pipeline below mirrors the rhythm production teams rely on: tokenize → embed → attend → sample → decode.
Neural nets cannot ingest raw text. Tokenization converts text into numeric IDs aligned with a training vocabulary so the network can look up embeddings.
More tokens mean shorter sequences but a heavier model head. Fewer tokens mean longer sequences but cheaper embeddings. Modern LLMs strike a balance with Byte Pair or SentencePiece.
Each generated token feeds back into the context. Temperature nudges randomness; top-k limits options to the most likely candidates to keep responses on task.
Paste any text, then flip between strategies to see how the same thought becomes model-ready tokens. The mock Byte Pair encoder uses a tiny merge table so the rules stay transparent.
Send a prompt and watch the scripted model walk through each stage. The response is deterministic when temperature is 0 and becomes more exploratory as you dial it up.