A package is a related set of functions, help files, and data files that have been bundled together. Packages in R are similar to modules in Perl, libraries in C/C++, and classes in Java.
Typically, all of the functions in the package are related: for
example, the stats package contains
functions for doing statistical analysis. To use a package, you need to
load it into R (see Loading Packages for directions
on loading package).
R offers an enormous number of packages: packages that display graphics, packages for performing statistical tests, and packages for trying the latest machine learning techniques. There are also packages designed for a wide variety of industries and applications: packages for analyzing microarray data, packages for modeling credit risks, and packages for social sciences.
Some of these packages are included with R: you just have to tell R that you want to use them. Other packages are available from public package repositories. You can even make your own packages. This chapter explains how to use packages.
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