Internet resources [...use the Google...]

Since R is an Open Source project, there many free resources available on the Internet. A Google search for the phrase "how do I [insert concept here] in r” will result in useful links explaining how to do the task you want to accomplish in R, many with code examples. These resources can be divided into several general categories and, depending on what you are trying to do, some will more helpful than others.

The first resource category you may encounter in a Google search is R function documentation. These resources are formal documentation for individual R functions. Here is an example:

This page is the documentation for the cbind( ) and rbind( ) functions. The page identifies the function or function family and the R package it is included in at the top of the page. Next, there is a description of the function operation. This is followed by examples of the function usage syntax, including the pattern for the function arguments. Each of the arguments is then described in detail. Finally, there is a detailed discussion of the function's operation normally followed by some examples of usage of this function in a code example. While this documentation is technical and relatively dry, it is helpful if you are trying to understand specific function arguments or aspects [such as data type] of the arguments.

Another formal resource category that your Google search may turn up is R package documentation. These often load in your browser as pdf files. This allows you to save the documentation for a package you use often to your computer for reference. R package documentation is constructed so you can begin using a package and its functions quickly and easily. Here is an example of documentation for the C50 package:

Most package documentation will follow this model. The package title and the current date of the documentation is at the top of the page. A header describing the package, identifying the package version and date, the package authors and maintainers, and the version of R that will run this package, follows this.

A table lists the package functions and states which page of the document they are described on. Each of the function descriptions follows the model of the standard R function documentation described above.

Some packages, like C50, may extend the functionality of a standard function for use with internal package data storage objects. The standard plot( ) function is extended in the C50 package. The package documentation shows this extended version as plot.C.50( ). If you look at the package documentation entry, you will notice that the extended function is called by using the command plot( ). the difference is that this extended version accepts a C50 object as an argument.

Often a Google search using a search phrase like, 'How do I add titles to a data frame in R', will result in links to blogs and R community sites. Most of these resources are excellent sources for R information. Often these resources include example code that you can use to solve your coding problem. Two blog examples are:

Stackoverflow [http://stackoverflow.com/] is another community resource that is helpful, but it is a bit different. This is a very active programmer community with resources for many programming languages. The R language forum is helpful. There are articles on several R topics as well as a Q&A forum. You may encounter those Q&A entries when you use Google to search for R language help.

Many universities use R in their courses. The course instructors post their materials on the Internet as a resource [similar to this resource]. Your Google search may turn up some of this material in your search. As with many of the resources above, these materials can prove helpful in learning R or solving a particular R problem.