Many of the pattern fi nding algorithms such as decision tree, classifi cation rules and clustering
techniques that are frequently used in data mining have been developed in machine learning
research community. Frequent pattern and association rule mining is one of the few excep-
tions to this tradition. The introduction of this technique boosted data mining research and its
impact is tremendous. The algorithm is quite simple and easy to implement. Experimenting
with APRIORI-like algorithm is the fi rst thing that data miners try to do.
