What is RStudio?

RStudio is a wrapper software created by Posit that makes it easier to start coding with R

RStudio displays your script (code you’re writing), the R Console (statistical output), data, plots and help documentation in one window

We recommend using R in combination with RStudio, both for beginners and advanced users

R and RStudio work on all common operating systems: Windows, Mac and Linux

Cartoons of Windows, Apple and Linux logos

Why use RStudio?

RStudio makes code easier to write:

  • Recognises R syntax1
  • Code completion: automatically adds closing parentheses, recognises object names
  • Keyboard shortcuts, for example to convert lines to comments

RStudio makes code easier to read and run:

  • Code folding: Functions & sections can be hidden to make it easier to read the code
  • Functions, parameters, text, comments and error messages are highlighted in different colours - see the example below
  • Automatic indents make it easy to read multi-line functions
  • Keyboard shortcuts to run code
  • View the content of objects such as datasets, variables, statistical results

Screenshot of RStudio website

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Footnotes

  1. syntax is the vocabulary & grammar of a programming language↩︎