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March 31, 2026 · View on GitHub

🦊 Xplique (pronounced \ɛks.plik\) is a Python toolkit dedicated to explainability. The goal of this library is to gather the state of the art of Explainable AI to help you understand your complex neural network models. Originally built for Tensorflow's model it also works for PyTorch models partially.
📘 Explore Xplique docs | Explore Xplique tutorials 🔥

Attributions · Concept · Feature Visualization · Metrics . Example-based

Important

With the release of Keras 3.X since TensorFlow 2.16, some methods may not function as expected. We are actively working on a fix. In the meantime, we recommend using TensorFlow 2.15 or earlier versions for optimal compatibility.

The library is composed of several modules, the Attributions Methods module implements various methods (e.g Saliency, Grad-CAM, FEM, Integrated-Gradients...), with explanations, examples and links to official papers. The Feature Visualization module allows to see how neural networks build their understanding of images by finding inputs that maximize neurons, channels, layers or compositions of these elements. The Concepts module allows you to extract human concepts from a model and to test their usefulness with respect to a class. Finally, the Metrics module covers the current metrics used in explainability. Used in conjunction with the Attribution Methods module, it allows you to test the different methods or evaluate the explanations of a model.

Note

We are proud to announce the release of the Example-based module! This module is dedicated to methods that explain a model by retrieving relevant examples from a dataset. It includes methods that belong to different families: similar examples, contrastive (counter-factuals and semi-factuals) examples, and prototypes (as concepts based methods have a dedicated sections).

🔥 Tutorials

We propose some Hands-on tutorials to get familiar with the library and its api:

Attribution Methods: Getting started

Example-based Methods: Getting started

You can find a certain number of other practical tutorials just here. This section is actively developed and more contents will be included. We will try to cover all the possible usage of the library, feel free to contact us if you have any suggestions or recommendations towards tutorials you would like to see.

🚀 Quick Start

Xplique requires a version of python higher than 3.7 and several libraries including Tensorflow and Numpy. Installation can be done using Pypi:

pip install xplique

Now that Xplique is installed, here are basic examples of what you can do with the available modules.

Attributions Methods

Let's start with a simple example, by computing Grad-CAM for several images (or a complete dataset) on a trained model.

from xplique.attributions import GradCAM

# load images, labels and model
# ...

explainer = GradCAM(model)
explanations = explainer.explain(images, labels)
# or just `explainer(images, labels)`

All attributions methods share a common API described in the attributions API documentation.

Attributions Metrics

In order to measure if the explanations provided by our method are faithful (it reflects well the functioning of the model) we can use a fidelity metric such as Deletion

from xplique.attributions import GradCAM
from xplique.metrics import Deletion

# load images, labels and model
# ...

explainer = GradCAM(model)
explanations = explainer(inputs, labels)
metric = Deletion(model, inputs, labels)

score_grad_cam = metric(explanations)

All attributions metrics share a common API. You can find out more about it here.

Concepts Extraction

CAV

Concerning the concept-based methods, we can for example extract a concept vector from a layer of a model. In order to do this, we use two datasets, one containing inputs containing the concept: positive_samples, the other containing other entries which do not contain the concept: negative_samples.

from xplique.concepts import Cav

# load a model, samples that contain a concept
# (positive) and samples who don't (negative)
# ...

extractor = Cav(model, 'mixed3')
concept_vector = extractor(positive_samples,
                           negative_samples)

More information on CAV here and on TCAV here.

CRAFT

Use Craft to investigate a single class.

from xplique.concepts import CraftTf as Craft

# Cut the model in two parts: g and h
# Create a Craft concept extractor from these 2 models
craft = Craft(input_to_latent_model = g,
              latent_to_logit_model = h)

# Use Craft to compute the concepts for a specific class
craft.fit(images_preprocessed, class_id=rabbit_class_id)

# Compute Sobol indices to understand which concept matters
importances = craft.estimate_importance()

# Display those concepts by showing the 10 best crops for each concept
craft.plot_concepts_crops(nb_crops=10)

More information in the CRAFT documentation.

Feature Visualization

Finally, in order to find an image that maximizes a neuron and at the same time a layer, we build two objectives that we combine together. We then call the optimizer which returns our images

from xplique.features_visualizations import Objective
from xplique.features_visualizations import optimize

# load a model...

neuron_obj = Objective.neuron(model, "logits", 200)
channel_obj = Objective.layer(model, "mixed3", 10)

obj = neuron_obj + 2.0 * channel_obj
images, obj_names = optimize(obj)

Want to know more ? Check the Feature Viz documentation

PyTorch with Xplique

Even though the library was mainly designed to be a Tensorflow toolbox we have been working on a very practical wrapper to facilitate the integration of your PyTorch models into Xplique's framework!

import torch

from xplique.wrappers import TorchWrapper
from xplique.attributions import Saliency
from xplique.metrics import Deletion

# load images, targets and model
# ...

device = 'cuda' if torch.cuda.is_available() else 'cpu'
wrapped_model = TorchWrapper(torch_model, device)

explainer = Saliency(wrapped_model)
explanations = explainer(inputs, targets)

metric = Deletion(wrapped_model, inputs, targets)
score_saliency = metric(explanations)

Want to know more ? Check the PyTorch documentation

📦 What's Included

There are 4 modules in Xplique, Attribution methods, Attribution metrics, Concepts, and Feature visualization. In particular, the attribution methods module supports a huge diversity of tasks:Classification, Regression, Object Detection, and Semantic Segmentation. For diverse data types: Images, Time Series, and Tabular data. The methods compatible with such task are highlighted in the following table:

Table of attributions available

Attribution Method	Type of Model	Source	Images	Time Series and Tabular Data
Deconvolution	TF	Paper	C✔️ OD❌ SS❌	C✔️ R✔️
FEM	TF	Paper	C✔️ OD❌ SS❌	❌
Grad-CAM	TF	Paper	C✔️ OD❌ SS❌	❌
Grad-CAM++	TF	Paper	C✔️ OD❌ SS❌	❌
Gradient Input	TF, PyTorch**	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	C✔️ R✔️
Guided Backprop	TF	Paper	C✔️ OD❌ SS❌	C✔️ R✔️
Integrated Gradients	TF, PyTorch**	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	C✔️ R✔️
Kernel SHAP	TF, PyTorch*, Callable	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	C✔️ R✔️
Lime	TF, PyTorch*, Callable	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	C✔️ R✔️
Occlusion	TF, PyTorch*, Callable	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	C✔️ R✔️
Rise	TF, PyTorch*, Callable	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	C✔️ R✔️
Saliency	TF, PyTorch**	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	C✔️ R✔️
SmoothGrad	TF, PyTorch**	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	C✔️ R✔️
SquareGrad	TF, PyTorch**	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	C✔️ R✔️
VarGrad	TF, PyTorch**	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	C✔️ R✔️
Sobol Attribution	TF, PyTorch**	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	🔵
Hsic Attribution	TF, PyTorch**	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	🔵
FORGrad enhancement	TF, PyTorch**	Paper	C✔️ OD✔️ SS✔️	❌

TF : Tensorflow compatible

C : Classification | R : Regression | OD : Object Detection | SS : Semantic Segmentation (SS)

* : See the Callable documentation

** : See the Xplique for PyTorch documentation, and the PyTorch models: Getting started notebook.

✔️ : Supported by Xplique | ❌ : Not applicable | 🔵 : Work in Progress

Table of attribution's metric available

Attribution Metrics	Type of Model	Property	Source
MuFidelity	TF, PyTorch**	Fidelity	Paper
Deletion	TF, PyTorch**	Fidelity	Paper
Insertion	TF, PyTorch**	Fidelity	Paper
AverageDropMetric	TF, PyTorch**	Fidelity	Paper
AverageIncreaseMetric	TF, PyTorch**	Fidelity	Paper
AverageGainMetric	TF, PyTorch**	Fidelity	Paper
Average Stability	TF, PyTorch**	Stability	Paper
MeGe	TF, PyTorch**	Representativity	Paper
ReCo	TF, PyTorch**	Consistency	Paper
Complexity	TF, PyTorch**	Complexity	Paper
Sparseness	TF, PyTorch**	Complexity	Paper
RandomLogitMetric	TF, PyTorch**	Randomization	Paper
ModelRandomizationMetric	TF, PyTorch**	Randomization	Paper
(WIP) e-robustness

TF : Tensorflow compatible

** : See the Xplique for PyTorch documentation, and the PyTorch models: Getting started notebook.

Table of concept methods available

Concepts method	Type of Model	Source
Concept Activation Vector (CAV)	TF	Paper
Testing CAV (TCAV)	TF	Paper
CRAFT Tensorflow	TF	Paper
CRAFT PyTorch	PyTorch**	Paper
(WIP) Robust TCAV
(WIP) Automatic Concept Extraction (ACE)

TF : Tensorflow compatible

** : See the Xplique for Pytorch documentation, and the PyTorch's model: Getting started notebook

Table of Feature Visualization methods available

Feature Visualization (Paper)	Type of Model	Details
Neurons	TF	Optimizes for specific neurons
Layer	TF	Optimizes for specific layers
Channel	TF	Optimizes for specific channels
Direction	TF	Optimizes for specific vector
Fourrier Preconditioning	TF	Optimize in Fourier basis (see preconditioning)
Objective combination	TF	Allows to combine objectives
MaCo	TF	Fixed Magnitude optimisation, see Paper

TF : Tensorflow compatible

Even though we are only at the early stages, we have also recently added an Example-based methods module. Do not hesitate to give us feedback! Currently, the methods available are summarized in the following table:

Table of example-based methods available

Method	Family	Documentation
`SimilarExamples`	Similar Examples	SimilarExamples
`Cole`	Similar Examples	Cole

`NaiveCounterFactuals`	Counter Factuals	NaiveCounterFactuals
`LabelAwareCounterFactuals`	Counter Factuals	LabelAwareCounterFactuals

`KLEORSimMiss`	Semi Factuals	KLEOR
`KLEORGlobalSim`	Semi Factuals	KLEOR

`ProtoGreedy`	Prototypes	ProtoGreedy
`ProtoDash`	Prototypes	ProtoDash
`MMDCritic`	Prototypes	MMDCritic

👍 Contributing

Feel free to propose your ideas or come and contribute with us on the Xplique toolbox! We have a specific document where we describe in a simple way how to make your first pull request: just here.

👀 See Also

This library is one approach of many to explain your model. We don't expect it to be the perfect solution, we create it to explore one point in the space of possibilities.

Other interesting tools to explain your model:

Lucid the wonderful library specialized in feature visualization from OpenAI.
Captum the PyTorch library for Interpretability research
Tf-explain that implement multiples attribution methods and propose callbacks API for tensorflow.
Alibi Explain for model inspection and interpretation
SHAP a very popular library to compute local explanations using the classic Shapley values from game theory and their related extensions

To learn more about Explainable AI in general:

Interpretable Machine Learning by Christophe Molnar.
Interpretability Beyond Feature Attribution by Been Kim.
Explaining ML Predictions: State-of-the-art, Challenges, and Opportunities by Himabindu Lakkaraju, Julius Adebayo and Sameer Singh.
A Roadmap for the Rigorous Science of Interpretability by Finale Doshi-Velez.
DEEL White paper a summary of the DEEL team on the challenges of certifiable AI and the role of explainability for this purpose

🙏 Acknowledgments

This project received funding from the French ”Investing for the Future – PIA3” program within the Artificial and Natural Intelligence Toulouse Institute (ANITI). The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the DEEL project.

👨‍🎓 Creators

This library was started as a side-project by Thomas FEL who is currently a graduate student at the Artificial and Natural Intelligence Toulouse Institute under the direction of Thomas SERRE. His thesis work focuses on explainability for deep neural networks.

He then received help from some members of the DEEL team to enhance the library namely from Lucas Hervier and Antonin Poché.

🗞️ Citation

If you use Xplique as part of your workflow in a scientific publication, please consider citing the 🗞️ Xplique official paper:

@article{fel2022xplique,
  title={Xplique: A Deep Learning Explainability Toolbox},
  author={Fel, Thomas and Hervier, Lucas and Vigouroux, David and Poche, Antonin and Plakoo, Justin and Cadene, Remi and Chalvidal, Mathieu and Colin, Julien and Boissin, Thibaut and Bethune, Louis and Picard, Agustin and Nicodeme, Claire 
          and Gardes, Laurent and Flandin, Gregory and Serre, Thomas},
  journal={Workshop on Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Computer Vision (CVPR)},
  year={2022}
}

📝 License

The package is released under MIT license.