CRAN stands for the Comprehensive R Archive Network. It is the primary repository for R programming language packages. CRAN hosts thousands of R packages created by users and developers worldwide, which extend the functionality of R in areas such as statistical computing, data analysis, machine learning, and visualization. It acts as a central hub where users can easily find, download, and install these packages. Key points about CRAN:
- It is a network of servers around the world storing R distributions, packages, documentation, and binaries.
- CRAN ensures high quality by enforcing strict package submission guidelines, including documentation and code standards.
- It maintains version history for packages, allowing reproducibility in research.
- CRAN fosters a community of developers and users collaborating and sharing knowledge.
- To install a package from CRAN, one typically uses R functions like install.packages("package_name") and then loads it with library("package_name").
In addition to this, "cran" can also mean other things: it is a British unit of capacity for fresh herrings (about 37.5 gallons), and historically it refers to a measure used in the North Sea fishing industry. It can also mean a common swift bird in Scottish usage. But most commonly, especially in the context of programming and data science, CRAN refers to the Comprehensive R Archive Network.
