Variables in R – Tutorials Art

For storing data values variables are used as containers. For declaring variables in R doesn’t have a command. For creating a variable, you have to assign a value to it. For assigning a value to a variable, we need to use the sign (<-).

To print the variable value, only type the variable name:

t <- "Tutorials Art"
n <- 20

t  
n

Output:

From the example above, t and n are variables, while "Tutorials Art" and 20 are values.

Print / Output Variables in R

Unlike other programming languages, you don’t need to use a function for output variables in R. Only type the name of the variable:

t <- "Tutorials Art"

t

Output:

We know that in R print() function is available if you want to use it. This is helpful in case you know about other programming languages, like Python, which may use a print() function for output variables.

t <- "Tutorials Art"

print(t)

Output:

For output code, you must use the print() function in some situations, for example, while working with for loops .

for (x in 1:5) {
  print(x)
}

Output:

Concatenate Elements in R

You can also join two or more elements with the use of the paste() function. In R, Comma (,) is used to combine text and variable.

t <- "Tutorials Art"

paste("Welcome to", t)

Output:

We can also use (,) to add a variable in another variable:

t1 <- "Welcome to "
t2 <- "Tutorials Art"

paste(t1, t2)

Output:

For numbers + sign works as a mathematical operator:

num1 <- 5
num2 <- 10

num1 + num2

Output:

The error will occur, when you try to combine (text) and number.

n <- 5
t <- "Tutorials Art"

n + t

Result:

Multiple Variables in R

Multiple variables in one line can be assigned the same value in the R language.

# Assign value to multiple variables in single line
v1 <- v2 <- v3 <- "Tutorials Art"

# Print values
v1
v2
v3

Output:

Variable Names in R

You can use short names as variables (x and y) and you can use more in detail (age, YourName, total_volume). Following are some R variables rules:

Variable name must begin with a letter and can be combination of period(.), letters, digits and underscore ( _ ) if it start with period(.), it will not followed by a digit
Variable name cannot be start with number and underscore ( _ )
Variables are case sensitive (age, Age and AGE will count three different variables)
We cannot used reserved words as variables (NULL, FALSE, TRUE, if…)