The R Project SVN R

\name{assignOps}
\alias{<-}
\alias{=}
\alias{<<-}
\alias{->}
\alias{->>}
\title{Assignment Operators}
\description{
  Assign a value to a name.
}
\usage{
x <- value
x <<- value
value -> x
value ->> x

x = value
}
\arguments{
  \item{x}{a variable name (possibly quoted).}
  \item{value}{a value to be assigned to \code{x}.}
}
\details{
  There are three different assignment operators: two of them
  have leftwards and rightwards forms.

  The operators \code{<-} and \code{=} assign into the
  environment in which they are evaluated.  The \code{<-} can be used
  anywhere, but the \code{=} is only allowed at the top level (that
  is, in the complete expression typed by the user) or as one of the
  subexpressions in a braced list of expressions.

  The operators \code{<<-} and \code{->>} cause a search to made through
  the environment for an existing definition of the variable being
  assigned.  If such a variable is found then its value is redefined,
  otherwise assignment takes place globally.  Note that their semantics
  differ from that in the S language, but are useful in conjunction with
  the scoping rules of \R.

  In all the assignment operator expressions, \code{x} can be a name
  or an expression defining a part of an object to be replaced (e.g.,
  \code{z[[1]]}).  The name does not need to be quoted, though it can
  be.

  The leftwards forms of assignment \code{<- = <<-} group right to left,
  the other from left to right.
}
\value{
  \code{value}.  Thus one can use \code{a <- b <- c <- 6}.
}
\references{
  Becker, R. A., Chambers, J. M. and Wilks, A. R. (1988)
  \emph{The New S Language}.
  Wadsworth \& Brooks/Cole.

  Chamber, J. M. (1998)
  \emph{Programming with Data. A Guide to the S Language}.
  Springer (for \code{=}).
}

\seealso{
  \code{\link{assign}},
  \code{\link{environment}}.
}
\keyword{data}