PyTorch memory model: “torch.from_numpy()” vs “torch.Tensor()”

Question

I’m trying to have an in-depth understanding of how PyTorch Tensor memory model works.

# input numpy array
In [91]: arr = np.arange(10, dtype=float32).reshape(5, 2)

# input tensors in two different ways
In [92]: t1, t2 = torch.Tensor(arr), torch.from_numpy(arr)

# their types
In [93]: type(arr), type(t1), type(t2)
Out[93]: (numpy.ndarray, torch.FloatTensor, torch.FloatTensor)

# ndarray 
In [94]: arr
Out[94]: 
array([[ 0.,  1.],
       [ 2.,  3.],
       [ 4.,  5.],
       [ 6.,  7.],
       [ 8.,  9.]], dtype=float32)

I know that PyTorch tensors share the memory buffer of NumPy ndarrays. Thus, changing one will be reflected in the other. So, here I’m slicing and updating some values in the Tensor t2

In [98]: t2[:, 1] = 23.0

And as expected, it’s updated in t2 and arr since they share the same memory buffer.

In [99]: t2
Out[99]: 

  0  23
  2  23
  4  23
  6  23
  8  23
[torch.FloatTensor of size 5x2]


In [101]: arr
Out[101]: 
array([[  0.,  23.],
       [  2.,  23.],
       [  4.,  23.],
       [  6.,  23.],
       [  8.,  23.]], dtype=float32)

But, t1 is also updated. Remember that t1 was constructed using torch.Tensor() whereas t2 was constructed using torch.from_numpy()

In [100]: t1
Out[100]: 

  0  23
  2  23
  4  23
  6  23
  8  23
[torch.FloatTensor of size 5x2]

So, no matter whether we use torch.from_numpy() or torch.Tensor() to construct a tensor from an ndarray, all such tensors and ndarrays share the same memory buffer.

Based on this understanding, my question is why does a dedicated function torch.from_numpy() exists when simply torch.Tensor() can do the job?

I looked at the PyTorch documentation but it doesn’t mention anything about this? Any ideas/suggestions?

Viacheslav Kroilov · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-18T18:48:45

from_numpy() automatically inherits input array dtype. On the other hand, torch.Tensor is an alias for torch.FloatTensor.

Therefore, if you pass int64 array to torch.Tensor, output tensor is float tensor and they wouldn’t share the storage. torch.from_numpy gives you torch.LongTensor as expected.

a = np.arange(10)
ft = torch.Tensor(a)  # same as torch.FloatTensor
it = torch.from_numpy(a)

a.dtype  # == dtype('int64')
ft.dtype  # == torch.float32
it.dtype  # == torch.int64

Jadiel de Armas · Answer 2 · 2019-01-18T19:17:05

The recommended way to build tensors in Pytorch is to use the following two factory functions: torch.tensor and torch.as_tensor.

torch.tensor always copies the data. For example, torch.tensor(x) is equivalent to x.clone().detach().

torch.as_tensor always tries to avoid copies of the data. One of the cases where as_tensor avoids copying the data is if the original data is a numpy array.

eric · Answer 3 · 2018-01-28T06:32:04

This comes from _torch_docs.py; there is also a possible discussion on the “why” here.

def from_numpy(ndarray): # real signature unknown; restored from __doc__
    """
    from_numpy(ndarray) -> Tensor

    Creates a :class:`Tensor` from a :class:`numpy.ndarray`.

    The returned tensor and `ndarray` share the same memory. 
    Modifications to the tensor will be reflected in the `ndarray` 
    and vice versa. The returned tensor is not resizable.

    Example::

        >>> a = numpy.array([1, 2, 3])
        >>> t = torch.from_numpy(a)
        >>> t
        torch.LongTensor([1, 2, 3])
        >>> t[0] = -1
        >>> a
        array([-1,  2,  3])
    """
    pass

Taken from the numpy docs:

Different ndarrays can share the same data, so that changes made in one ndarray may be visible in another. That is, an ndarray can be a “view” to another ndarray, and the data it is referring to is taken care of by the “base” ndarray.

Pytorch docs:

If a numpy.ndarray, torch.Tensor, or torch.Storage is given, a new tensor that shares the same data is returned. If a Python sequence is given, a new tensor is created from a copy of the sequence.

rbewoor · Answer 4 · 2021-04-15T16:23:22

I tried doing what you said and its working as expected:
Torch 1.8.1, Numpy 1.20.1, python 3.8.5

x = np.arange(8, dtype=np.float64).reshape(2,4)
y_4mNp = torch.from_numpy(x)
y_t = torch.tensor(x)
print(f"x={x}\ny_4mNp={y_4mNp}\ny_t={y_t}")

All variables have same values right now as expected:

x=[[0. 1. 2. 3.]
 [4. 5. 6. 7.]]
y_4mNp=tensor([[0., 1., 2., 3.],
        [4., 5., 6., 7.]], dtype=torch.float64)
y_t=tensor([[0., 1., 2., 3.],
        [4., 5., 6., 7.]], dtype=torch.float64)

From_numpy does use the same underlying memory that the np variable uses.
So changing either the np or the .from_numpy variables impact each other but NOT the tensor variable.
But changes to y_t affect only itself and not the numpy or the from_numpy variables.

x[0,1] = 111       ## changed the numpy variable itself directly
y_4mNp[1,:] = 500  ## changed the .from_numpy variable
y_t[0,:] = 999     ## changed the tensor variable
print(f"x={x}\ny_4mNp={y_4mNp}\ny_t={y_t}")

Output now:

x=[[  0. 111.   2.   3.]
 [500. 500. 500. 500.]]
y_4mNp=tensor([[  0., 111.,   2.,   3.],
        [500., 500., 500., 500.]], dtype=torch.float64)
y_t=tensor([[999., 999., 999., 999.],
        [  4.,   5.,   6.,   7.]], dtype=torch.float64)

Dunno if this was an issue with earlier versions?

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