The reticulate package provides an R interface to Python modules, classes, and functions. For example, this code imports the Python os module and calls some functions within it:

library(reticulate)
os <- import("os")
os$chdir("tests")
os$getcwd()

Functions and other data within Python modules and classes can be accessed via the $ operator (analogous to the way you would interact with an R list, environment, or reference class).

When calling into Python, R data types are automatically converted to their equivalent Python types. When values are returned from Python to R they are converted back to R types. Types are converted as follows:

If a Python object of a custom class is returned then an R reference to that object is returned. You can call methods and access properties of the object just as if it was an instance of an R reference class.

The reticulate package is compatible with all versions of Python >= 2.7. Integration with NumPy is optional and requires NumPy >= 1.6.

First, install reticulate from CRAN as follows:

install.packages("reticulate")

Then, learn the basics by reading the Introduction to reticulate.

The following articles cover the various aspects of using reticulate:

• Introduction to reticulate

• Python Version Configuration

• Using reticulate in an R Package

• Arrays in R and Python