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riterable-unpacking

Python-like unpacking of numeric value in R

In Python, one can do this:

>>> a, b, c = (1, 2, 3)
>>> a
1
>>> b
2
>>> c
3

Is there a way to do it in R, as below?

> a, b, c = c(1, 2, 3)
Solution

  • You can do this within a list using [<-

    e <- list()

e[c('a','b','c')] <- list(1,2,3)

    Or within a data.table using :=

    library(data.table)
DT <- data.table()
DT[, c('a','b','c') := list(1,2,3)]

    With both of these (lists), you could then use list2env to copy to the global (or some other) environment

    list2env(e, envir = parent.frame())

a
## 1
b
## 2
c
## 3

    But not in general usage creating objects in an environment.