Why Learn R Programming?

R is an open-source programming language and environment created for graphics and statistical computing. This highly extensible language provides users with various statistical techniques, such as time-series analysis, clustering, and nonlinear modeling. Have you ever explored all of the things R programming can do? R helps Data Analysts and Data Scientists perform many data-related tasks, such as data storage and data analysis, and can be used to create customized dashboards and data visualizations. This language leverages machine learning tools so users can make accurate data-based forecasts. Here, you’ll learn more about the careers that benefit from R programming and how it can enhance your professional life. Regardless of your goals, learning R is a valuable and impressive skill to add to your resume. 

What is R Programming?

R is a programming language that statisticians created for statistical data analytics. This popular language has a range of applications for performing statistical computing and creating data visualizations. It is often used by Data Scientists, Business Analysts, Data Analysts, and those working in academia or science for tasks specifically involving statistical analysis. R is currently available for free and can run on Windows and Mac OS, as well as a variety of UNIX platforms and related systems.

R provides users with a range of graphical and statistical techniques, such as time-series analysis, clustering, classification, and linear and nonlinear modeling. One of the benefits of working with R is that it simplifies the process of creating publication-quality plots, especially those that incorporate formulas or mathematical symbols. This versatile language includes a fully integrated suite of software tools, such as a data storage and handling facility, operations for performing calculations on arrays, an extensive, integrated set of data analytics tools, and graphical tools designed to analyze and visualize data.

Read more about what R programming is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with R Programming?

R was created to primarily help with graphics and statistical computations. This language can accomplish various tasks, from data storage to data analysis to generating statistical models. Of all the available programming languages, R is considered to be the one with the most tools devoted exclusively to statistics. This language can aid with descriptive statistics tasks, like calculating standard deviations and designing models for mapping linear regression.

One of R’s most useful features is its ability to help users create customized data visualizations and dashboards. Some consider R’s ggplot2 package the best data visualization tool available. This package allows users to draw nearly any plot they can conceive. In addition, those who wish to take their data visualizations in R to the next level can combine ggplot2’s syntax with Plotly’s interactive features to make dashboards that are as engaging as they are interactive. 

R draws from various machine learning tools so that users can make accurate, data-driven predictions. Users can select from an array of machine learning models, which have applications for creating predictive models, such as movie recommendation systems and churn models. In addition, R users can automate reporting by using R Markdown documents. R Markdown offers a straightforward, accessible syntax to generate various reports, such as presentations, books, or other written documents. This helps R users easily communicate data analysis results with others. 

Common Professional Uses for R Programming

Because of the massive volume of data being created each day, those with the skills to analyze and visualize it are in demand in many professions and often receive high salaries for their skills. Since R is a highly versatile programming language, it is used across many industries and professions, such as in financial services, academia, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and data journalism. It is also a widely used language across data science and analytics fields. 

R Programmers are involved in designing the tools used to streamline the data analytics process. They work with data structures like data frames, vectors, and matrices to facilitate fast and efficient data analysis. Data Analysts work with R to locate, retrieve, and deliver data insights. Data Scientists commonly use R to create and implement the layout of a large dataset, as well as for tasks such as data mining, data modeling, research, and forecasting. 

In addition to Data Scientists and Data Analysts, Data Architects also work with R when they perform data warehousing, data modeling, or system development. Geo Statisticians use R to examine both spatial and spatiotemporal datasets. Those working as Quantitative Analysts sometimes use R to ensure clients’ portfolios are risk-balanced, as well as to apply mathematical models to identify new opportunities and evaluate asset prices. Because of R’s data visualization capabilities, Data Visualization Analysts also use this language when they create and share interactive dashboards that are intended to help policymakers make more informed decisions.

Why Use R?

The following are just several reasons why R remains one of the most popular programming languages across industries:

R Has Thousands of Packages

More than 10,000 packages are available for R, as well as a plethora of inbuilt functions. R users can choose from packages specifically designed for data visualization, data manipulation, statistical modeling, machine learning, or imputation. In particular, this language is known for its data visualization capabilities, which are more extensive than other data science programming languages. Libraries such as Plotly and ggplot2 help R users create stunning and interactive visualizations to depict their data findings.

You Can Use R to Develop Engaging Web Apps

R users who work with the R Shiny package can create interactive dashboards directly from their R IDE console. Shiny also has applications for crafting interactive web apps that use R for the back end coding. In addition, Shiny can be used to embed charts in R Markdown documents, as well as to host standalone apps on a web page. Shiny apps can also be extended with JavaScript actions, HTML widgets, and CSS themes.

Many Major Companies use R

If you’re interested in learning R to advance in your career or to pivot to a new career entirely, this language is widely used among some of the largest companies around the world. Tech giants like Meta, Google, Ford, and Twitter all work with R for tasks such as behavioral analysis, economic forecasting, advertising effectiveness, data visualization, and semantic clustering tasks. Learning more about R through Noble Desktop’s in-person or live online Data Science Certificate is a great way to be more marketable when applying for a data-related job. Certificate study provides essential career support and one-on-one mentoring sessions to ensure you will be a pro at R by course completion.

R Offers Extensive Community Support

Learning R isn’t something you have to do on your own. Thanks to educational providers like Noble Desktop, which offer classes like Data Analytics with R Bootcamp, and the RStudio Community, it’s easier than ever to receive support and guidance on your R learning journey. The RStudio Community has over 50K posts from nearly 47K members. This robust community of Data Scientists and Statisticians is available to support various coding-related questions about topics such as using Shiny, working with RStudio, package development, and using R Markdown.

How to Start Learning R Programming

If you want to study R programming, the good news is that excellent study options are available online and in person. Learning R in the in-person environment is a great way for extroverted individuals to master core programming concepts. Classroom study provides access to a computer lab with the most up-to-date software and offers a way for students to connect with others on the same learning journey and receive guidance from an expert instructor. Live online classwork offers the same components as in-person programs, such as the ability to connect with an instructor in real-time and the added perk of allowing students to complete all coursework remotely from the comfort of their home or office. You can browse nearby in-person R classes to find one close to home or search specifically for live online R classes that you can complete from anywhere.

Another way to study R is to enroll in self-paced R courses. Top educational providers like Codeacademy, Coursera, and edX offer on-demand R lessons and tutorials, which can help students study this programming language at their own pace and from their preferred location. Unlike in-person and live online study, asynchronous R classwork does not entail meeting at a regularly scheduled time to complete lessons. Instead, students work with pre-recorded videos, tutorials, and other learning materials, to gain an overview of core R concepts. Self-paced learning doesn’t allow students to get support when they have questions, so this method is best for beginners interested in studying the basics of programming with R. To master more advanced programming concepts, it may be necessary to enroll in a course that provides real-time access to an instructor.

Noble Desktop also offers an Intro to Data Science seminar for those interested in an overview of the field of data science. This video briefly introduces data science and discusses the different tools Data Scientists use. It also contains information on how professionals can use data science in the business sector. Those interested in only studying R programming can browse nearby R classes to find a learning option most suited to their learning needs.

Read the full guide on how to learn R programming. 

Learn R Programming with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop has several excellent learning options for those new to R and courses for more advanced programmers interested in mastering complex R skills. Noble’s Data Analytics with R Bootcamp is an immersive class designed to take participants from the basics of coding to a portfolio showcasing your experience working with R. Those enrolled receive expert instruction and can retake the class for up to one year to brush up on course materials. 

Noble also offers a variety of in-person and live online coding classes that prepare participants to become Data Scientists or Web Developers. Courses are available in popular programming languages such as JavaScript and Python, as well as front end and full stack web development. Certificates are also offered in software engineering and data science. For students seeking instruction about using programming for finance technology, Noble currently has a FinTech bootcamp available as well, which includes one-on-one mentoring for all participants.

In addition to the variety of programming courses Noble teaches, this top educational provider also has several in-person and live online Data Analytics classes. Noble’s Data Analytics Technologies Bootcamp is a beginner-friendly course that prepares students to work with core data analytics tools like SQL, Excel, and Tableau. In addition, a certificate in data analytics is also available for those interested in becoming a Business Analyst or Data Analyst. This rigorous learning opportunity prepares students to perform data analysis, statistical analysis, and data visualization, as well as how to use relational databases. All students receive one-on-one mentoring to help with their learning process.

Key Insights

• R is an extensible, open-source programming language and environment designed to help Data Scientists and Statisticians create graphics and perform statistical computing tasks. 
• If you want to learn R, this language has more than 10K packages for data visualization, machine learning, and statistical modeling.
• The RStudio Community allows R users to post questions and receive guidance on common R topics, like working with Shiny. 
• Comprehensive R programming training is available in-person and live online with Noble Desktop.