Title: R Programming Language Author: Kriko Published: Jun 8, 2023 Last modified: Jul 7, 2026 --- 1. [Home](https://kriko.io/) / 2. [Glossary](https://kriko.io/glossary) / 3. R Letter # R Programming Language **R** is an open-source programming language and software environment widely used for statistical computing, data analysis and graphics. It was initially developed in the early 1990s by Ross Ihaka and Robert Gentleman at the University of Auckland. Today, its development is supported by the R Core Team and contributors from around the world. R is frequently used by statisticians, researchers, data analysts and data scientists. It supports a broad range of methods, including linear and nonlinear modelling, classification, clustering, time-series analysis and machine learning. It is also particularly effective for **data visualisation**, statistical analysis and data manipulation. One of R’s main strengths is its extensive ecosystem of libraries and packages. Users can expand the language’s capabilities by installing packages designed for specific analytical methods, industries and research areas. Many of these packages are distributed through the Comprehensive R Archive Network, commonly known as CRAN. R can be used through a command-line interface as well as integrated development environments, or IDEs. These environments make it easier to write, organise, test and debug R code while managing analytical projects more efficiently. A typical data analysis workflow in R may include the following stages: **Data Import:** Data is collected from sources such as databases, spreadsheets, files, APIs or analytical platforms and transferred into the R environment. **Data Transformation:** Raw data is cleaned, reorganised and converted into a structure suitable for analysis. This may include filtering records, correcting values, combining datasets and creating new variables. **Data Exploration:** The data is examined to identify patterns, relationships, anomalies and possible areas of interest. Visualisations and summary statistics are frequently used during this stage. **Statistical Modelling:** Appropriate statistical or machine learning models are selected, developed and evaluated according to the analytical objective. **Communication:** Findings are presented through charts, reports, dashboards or reproducible documents so that insights can be understood and used by relevant stakeholders. R supports **reproducible analysis** by allowing code, calculations, visualisations and analytical outputs to be documented within the same workflow. This makes it easier to review, repeat and share analytical processes. With its extensive package ecosystem, strong statistical capabilities and flexible visualisation tools, R remains an important environment for academic research, data science and advanced analytics. The official R Project describes it as a language and environment developed specifically for **statistical computing** and graphics. ## Discover it in the dictionary ### Push Notification A push notification is a short message that a mobile application, web application or website sends to a user through their device. These notifications… ### Keyword Research Keyword research is the process of analysing which words and phrases users search for in search engines. It is one of the core stages… ### Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) AutoML, short for Automated Machine Learning, is an approach used to automate selected stages of the machine learning development process. It can support the… ### Permanently Redirect – 301 A 301 redirect is an HTTP status code that indicates a URL has permanently moved to another URL. It is used to permanently redirect… ### Original Content Original content refers to content that is not copied directly from other sources, not reproduced through only minor wording changes and provides real value… ### Deep Linking Deep linking is a link structure that directs users to a specific piece of content, product, category, campaign or app screen instead of sending… ### Geospatial Analysis Geospatial analysis is a method used to examine data through location, distance, area and geographical relationships. It helps identify where events occur, how different… ### Viral Content Viral content refers to content that is shared rapidly by users and reaches large audiences within a short period of time. It may be… ### Page Not Found Error (404) Page Not Found Error is commonly known on the web as 404 Not Found. It is an HTTP status code indicating that the page… ## Track the digital heartbeat with Kriko Subscribe to receive curated insights, news, and ideas shaping the digital landscape. By checking this box, you acknowledge and accept our [privacy policy](https://kriko.io/privacy-policy).