1. Introduction

This chapter provides an introduction to R and RStudio, starting with installing the software and packages to extend the language. Basic aspects of the R software system are described including objects for containing data such as vectors, matrices and data frames, and operations on these objects including functions. Methods for organizing R code and an introduction to dynamic report writing in Quarto and R Markdown are covered. Projects are helpful in organizing one’s work including code, data and reports. The R help system is described and some basic graphical methods are introduced using R graphics and the ggplot2 package.