ModelRefs / Tree of Thoughts (ToT) — AI Glossary
Tree of Thoughts (ToT) — AI Glossary
A reasoning framework where the model explores a tree of intermediate reasoning steps with evaluation and backtracking. Also called Tree of Thoughts.
Overview
ToT (Yao et al., 2023) outperforms chain-of-thought on Game of 24 and creative writing by allowing deliberate look-ahead and pruning. Computationally expensive — best reserved for tasks where CoT accuracy is insufficient.
Reference details
| Topic | reasoning |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Tree of Thoughts |
| Last reviewed | 2026-06-24 |
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Primary source
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Frequently asked questions
What is Tree of Thoughts (ToT)?
A reasoning framework where the model explores a tree of intermediate reasoning steps with evaluation and backtracking.
Is Tree of Thoughts (ToT) the same as Tree of Thoughts?
Yes — Tree of Thoughts are common aliases for Tree of Thoughts (ToT).
What concepts are related to Tree of Thoughts (ToT)?
Closely related concepts include chain of thought, self consistency.