How to Create Vector in R: Simple Syntax and Examples

In R, you create a vector using the c() function by combining values inside parentheses separated by commas. For example, c(1, 2, 3) creates a numeric vector with three elements.

Syntax

The basic syntax to create a vector in R is using the c() function, which stands for 'combine'. Inside the parentheses, you list the elements separated by commas.

• c(): Function to combine elements into a vector.
• Elements: Values of the same or different types (numbers, characters, logicals).

r

vector_name <- c(element1, element2, element3, ...)

Example

This example shows how to create a numeric vector and a character vector using c(). It also prints the vectors to show their contents.

r

numbers <- c(10, 20, 30, 40)
print(numbers)

words <- c("apple", "banana", "cherry")
print(words)

Output

[1] 10 20 30 40
[1] "apple"  "banana" "cherry"

Common Pitfalls

One common mistake is mixing different data types in a vector, which causes R to convert all elements to a single type, usually character. Another is forgetting to use c() and trying to assign multiple values directly, which causes an error.

r

# Wrong: assigning multiple values without c()
# numbers <- 1, 2, 3  # This will cause an error

# Right: use c() to combine values
numbers <- c(1, 2, 3)
print(numbers)

# Mixing types example
mixed <- c(1, "two", TRUE)
print(mixed)  # All elements become characters

Output

[1] 1 2 3
[1] "1"    "two"  "TRUE"

Quick Reference

Function	Description	Example
c()	Combine elements into a vector	c(1, 2, 3)
print()	Display vector contents	print(c("a", "b"))
typeof()	Check vector element type	typeof(c(1, 2))
length()	Get number of elements	length(c(1, 2, 3))

Key Takeaways

Use the c() function to create vectors by combining elements.

All elements in a vector must be of the same type; mixing types converts them to a common type.

Always separate elements with commas inside c().

Use print() to see the contents of a vector.

Avoid assigning multiple values without c(), as it causes errors.