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A stemmer is an algorithm that operates on the principle of recognizing “stem” words embedded in other words. These are helpful for lexical purposes, for example, in online dictionaries, for heuristics in file management, or anywhere else that semantic tools can help create order.
Stemmers pick up the inclusion of a core or stem word within a longer word. For example, a stemming algorithm might look at a word like “planning,” and correctly recognize that the root word or stem word is “plan.” This can be a helpful element of something that parses raw text for analysis, either for a website or some other project.