Arrays in R
Arrays are the R data objects which can store data in more than two dimensions.
For example − If we create an array of dimension (2, 3, 4) then it creates 4
rectangular matrices each with 2 rows and 3 columns. Arrays can store only data
type.
An array is created using the array() function. It takes vectors as input and uses
the values in the dim parameter to create an array.
Example
The following example creates an array of two 3x3 matrices each with 3 rows and
3 columns.
# Create two vectors of different lengths.
vector1 <- c(5,9,3)
vector2 <- c(10,11,12,13,14,15)
# Take these vectors as input to the array.
result <- array(c(vector1,vector2),dim = c(3,3,2))
print(result)
When we execute the above code, it produces the following result −
,,1
[,1] [,2] [,3]
[1,] 5 10 13
[2,] 9 11 14
[3,] 3 12 15
,,2
[,1] [,2] [,3]
[1,] 5 10 13
[2,] 9 11 14
[3,] 3 12 15
Naming Columns and Rows
We can give names to the rows, columns and matrices in the array by using the
dimnames parameter.
# Create two vectors of different lengths.
vector1 <- c(5,9,3)
vector2 <- c(10,11,12,13,14,15)
[Link] <- c("COL1","COL2","COL3")
[Link] <- c("ROW1","ROW2","ROW3")
[Link] <- c("Matrix1","Matrix2")
# Take these vectors as input to the array.
result <- array(c(vector1,vector2),dim = c(3,3,2),dimnames =
list([Link],[Link],
[Link]))
print(result)
When we execute the above code, it produces the following result −
, , Matrix1
COL1 COL2 COL3
ROW1 5 10 13
ROW2 9 11 14
ROW3 3 12 15
, , Matrix2
COL1 COL2 COL3
ROW1 5 10 13
ROW2 9 11 14
ROW3 3 12 15
Accessing Array Elements
# Create two vectors of different lengths.
vector1 <- c(5,9,3)
vector2 <- c(10,11,12,13,14,15)
[Link] <- c("COL1","COL2","COL3")
[Link] <- c("ROW1","ROW2","ROW3")
[Link] <- c("Matrix1","Matrix2")
# Take these vectors as input to the array.
result <- array(c(vector1,vector2),dim = c(3,3,2),dimnames = list([Link],
[Link], [Link]))
# Print the third row of the second matrix of the array.
print(result[3,,2])
# Print the element in the 1st row and 3rd column of the 1st matrix.
print(result[1,3,1])
# Print the 2nd Matrix.
print(result[,,2])
When we execute the above code, it produces the following result −
COL1 COL2 COL3
3 12 15
[1] 13
COL1 COL2 COL3
ROW1 5 10 13
ROW2 9 11 14
ROW3 3 12 15
Manipulating Array Elements
As array is made up matrices in multiple dimensions, the operations on elements of
array are carried out by accessing elements of the matrices.
# Create two vectors of different lengths.
vector1 <- c(5,9,3)
vector2 <- c(10,11,12,13,14,15)
# Take these vectors as input to the array.
array1 <- array(c(vector1,vector2),dim = c(3,3,2))
# Create two vectors of different lengths.
vector3 <- c(9,1,0)
vector4 <- c(6,0,11,3,14,1,2,6,9)
array2 <- array(c(vector1,vector2),dim = c(3,3,2))
# create matrices from these arrays.
matrix1 <- array1[,,2]
matrix2 <- array2[,,2]
# Add the matrices.
result <- matrix1+matrix2
print(result)
When we execute the above code, it produces the following result −
[,1] [,2] [,3]
[1,] 10 20 26
[2,] 18 22 28
[3,] 6 24 30
Calculations Across Array Elements
We can do calculations across the elements in an array using the apply() function.
Syntax
apply(x, margin, fun)
Following is the description of the parameters used −
x is an array.
margin is the name of the data set used.
fun is the function to be applied across the elements of the array.
Example
We use the apply() function below to calculate the sum of the elements in the rows
of an array across all the matrices.
# Create two vectors of different lengths.
vector1 <- c(5,9,3)
vector2 <- c(10,11,12,13,14,15)
# Take these vectors as input to the array.
[Link] <- array(c(vector1,vector2),dim = c(3,3,2))
print([Link])
# Use apply to calculate the sum of the rows across all the matrices.
result <- apply([Link], c(1), sum)
print(result)
When we execute the above code, it produces the following result −
,,1
[,1] [,2] [,3]
[1,] 5 10 13
[2,] 9 11 14
[3,] 3 12 15
,,2
[,1] [,2] [,3]
[1,] 5 10 13
[2,] 9 11 14
[3,] 3 12 15
[1] 56 68 60