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C++ also uses (::), by the way. R probably borrowed it from C++.
by a57721 1y ago
C++ also uses (::), by the way. R probably borrowed it from C++.
- p_l 1y agoMost likely from Common Lisp due to links between R and Lisp. In CL double colon lets you access unexported symbols from a package, while single colon accesses only the exported ones
- a57721 1y agoOh I think you're right and both took it from Common Lisp, which largely predates namespaces in C++ and R.