Glossary · Updated Sep 2, 2026

Diffusion model

A generative model that creates images, audio, or video by learning to reverse a gradual noising process.

Definition

Diffusion models are trained to remove noise from corrupted data step by step; at generation time they start from noise and iteratively refine it into an output guided by a prompt. They power most image generators and many video and audio tools. Variants trade off speed and quality through fewer denoising steps and distillation.

Why it matters when choosing a tool

Knowing a tool is diffusion-based explains behaviours such as seed-based variation, guidance strength settings, and inpainting capabilities.

Where you will meet it

AI Image & Design, AI Video Generation, AI Music Generation

Related terms

Text-to-image · Inpainting and outpainting · LoRA (low-rank adaptation)

Tools where this matters

Reviewed products in the related categories