Learn R with DataCamp

R is a programming language and software that is used for statistical analysis and data visualization. At DataCamp we use R to power all our internal data dashboards to help us make better data-driven decisions. It is also frequently used in healthcare, government, academia, and large companies to help them analyze, model, and make predictions and forecasts using their data.

No. You can learn R on DataCamp without installing any software—all the training and exercises can be completed in your browser.

Your answer will depend on what it is you're trying to achieve and also personal preference. For instance, both R and Python are open source with large user communities and support in the form of ready-made packages. R is a particularly robust language for data visualization, ad-hoc analysis, and statistical computing. This is because R evolved from a stats language called S, and now has a package ecosystem that can be used to support other tasks. Python, by contrast, was designed as a general-purpose programming language and evolved a package ecosystem to work with data. This means Python is a popular choice for repeated tasks and building web apps and games. In summary, you can use both languages to manage vast datasets, visualize data, and build machine learning models.

Is learning a new language like French or Spanish easy? The answer to this question will differ from person to person. You may sometimes hear people say that Python is easier to learn than R, or that prior knowledge of programming or statistics is needed to learn R. This is not true. Popular packages such as tidyverse and a wealth of online learning resources (including DataCamp) mean that this popular language is accessible to beginners and experienced programmers alike.

R takes its name from the first initial of its two founders, Robert Gentleman and Ross Ihaka. It’s also a playful alphabetical hat-tip to S, a pre-existing programming language created in 1976.

With a free DataCamp account you can access the first chapter of most DataCamp courses, including all R courses. By subscribing, you gain unlimited access to all courses, projects, and practice modules. You'll also have access to our Slack community.

Yes. R is a free, open-source programming language that is available for everyone to use. It also has a huge and growing ecosystem with a variety of open-source packages and libraries, including dplyr, devtools, foreign, cluster, and ggplot2. DataCamp makes it easy to dive into learning R: Our interactive courses provide access to a real coding environment with R packages included—no additional setup from you required—and real-time feedback for coding exercises.