What is R written in?
The R runtime is written in C and Fortran.
R is a programming language for statistical analysis, first released in 1993.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | C (since 1993) | R runtime core in C |
| Runtime | Fortran (since 1993) | R has Fortran components for numerical routines |
Runtime model
The R runtime, written in C and Fortran, manages the execution of R programs. Runtime-based languages rely on a host process to interpret or compile code at runtime rather than compiling entirely ahead-of-time to native machine code. This means running R programs requires the runtime to be present on the target system.
The choice of C and Fortran for the runtime gives R access to native performance, established platform abstractions, and existing ecosystem libraries.
Explore in the Graph
See R's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
Open Interactive Graph →Or view the R language page for the complete record.