[R] x[0]: Can '0' be made an allowed index in R?

Hans W hwborcher@ @end|ng |rom gm@||@com
Sun Apr 21 09:55:53 CEST 2024


As we all know, in R indices for vectors start with 1, i.e, x[0] is not a
correct expression. Some algorithms, e.g. in graph theory or combinatorics,
are much easier to formulate and code if 0 is an allowed index pointing to
the first element of the vector.

Some programming languages, for instance Julia (where the index for normal
vectors also starts with 1), provide libraries/packages that allow the user
to define an index range for its vectors, say 0:9 or 10:20 or even negative
indices.

Of course, this notation would only be feasible for certain specially
defined vectors. Is there a library that provides this functionality?
Or is there a simple trick to do this in R? The expression 'x[0]' must
be possible, does this mean the syntax of R has to be twisted somehow?

Thanks, Hans W.

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