# File Input/Output

When coding in R, you will often need to input datasets to work with! The easiest ways to do so are either from a .csv file or a .txt file. To do this, you can use the read.csv() and read\_table() functions, respectively. The following demonstrates these functions using a hypothetical "hospital\_data" dataset. 

To output a file from R, use the syntax sink("FileName.FileType").

## File Input:

```r
#If the dataset is already loaded into the R directory
read.csv("hospital_data.csv")
read_table("hospital_data.txt")

#To add a new dataset from machine downloads to directory (Mac)
read.csv("/users/username/Downloads/hospital_data.csv")
read_table("/users/username/Downloads/hospital_data.txt")

#To add a new dataset from machine desktop to directory (Windows)
read.csv("C:\\Users\\username\\Desktop\\hospital_data.csv")
read_table("C:\\Users\\username\\Desktop\\hospital_data.txt")

#Note that forward slashes are used on Mac and backwards slashes are used by Windows
```

## File Output:

```r
#To output a file as a .txt file:
sink("hospital_data.txt")

#To output a file as a .csv file:
sink("hospital_data.csv")
```

## Resources:

* R Documentation: [read.csv file input](https://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/r-release/R-data.html#Variations-on-read_002etable)
  * More read.csv resources [Import .csv files in R](https://teacherscollege.screenstepslive.com/a/1122473-import-data-in-r-csv-files-into-r-studio)
* R Documentation: [read\_table file input](https://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/r-release/R-intro.html#The-read_002etable_0028_0029-function)
* R Documentation: [File output](https://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/r-release/R-intro.html#Executing-commands-from-or-diverting-output-to-a-file)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.bcbi.brown.edu/codiac-for-health/computing/r/file-input-output.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.