If statements with variables in the form of words in r

Asked Aug 18 '17 at 13:16

Active Aug 18 '17 at 13:16

Viewed 79 times

This is an incredibly simple question. If I have a variable defined by a word such as:

variable1 = 'returns'

This would be something that I could later edit (i.e. change 'returns' to 'revenue').

I then want to execute a particular block of code provided that the variable is 'returns'. Why does R tell me that I cannot use an = sign when I try:

if(variable1 = 'returns'){
#code would go here
}

asked Aug 18 '17 at 13:16

alex1stef2

3

It should be `==`. The `=` is another way to assign and not compare – akrun Aug 18 '17 at 13:18
1

`if (variable1 == 'returns') ...` You need to use `==` for equality – Tim Biegeleisen Aug 18 '17 at 13:18
@akrun Bonus points if you can explain what value an assignment itself would return. – Tim Biegeleisen Aug 18 '17 at 13:19
perfect, thank you both! – alex1stef2 Aug 18 '17 at 13:19
@TimBiegeleisen Not sure I understand your comment. To the OP, the `if/else is a conditional statement, so you need to have a logical element that returns from variable == 'returns' – akrun Aug 18 '17 at 13:22
also, since I'm already asking embarrassing questions, is there any difference between = and <- other than clarity for how something is assigned? – alex1stef2 Aug 18 '17 at 13:24
2

@akrun In most programming languages, probably in R as well, an assignment itself returns a value. This could have given the OP false signals that `=` is "working." – Tim Biegeleisen Aug 18 '17 at 13:26
1

@alex1stef2 Take a look at [Difference between assignment operators](https://stackoverflow.com/q/2271575/4752675) – G5W Aug 18 '17 at 13:32

0 Answers0