R, using table function on a list

Question

If I define a list like this:

a <- list(1,2,3,4,5,1)

and then call table(a) , I get:

, , a.3 = 3, a.4 = 4, a.5 = 5, a.6 = 1

   a.2
a.1 2
  1 1

Isn't this behavior weird? How could I use the table function on this list to get something like:

1 2 3 4 5 
2 1 1 1 1

table(unlist(a))? Is there a reason it needs to remain a list? — r2evans
– r2evans, Commented Oct 20, 2018 at 4:46
@r2evans. I'm new to R and I could not find the answer by googling it, so I posted this question here! Thanks for your simple solution. Is my question a duplicate on this site? — Dandelion
– Dandelion, Commented Oct 20, 2018 at 4:50
I haven't seen it before, but that doesn't mean anything. It is likely a fairly basic question, but perhaps not so basic when you are learning it from scratch. — r2evans
– r2evans, Commented Oct 20, 2018 at 5:00
@r2evans Would you please add your comment as an answer so I can accept it? — Dandelion
– Dandelion, Commented Oct 24, 2018 at 14:11

r2evans · Accepted Answer · 2018-10-24 16:29:09Z

1

The table function provides "a contingency table of the counts at each combination of factor levels" (from ?table). Since it works on vectors and not a list, you just need to unlist it:

unlist(a)
# [1] 1 2 3 4 5 1
table(unlist(a))
# 1 2 3 4 5 
# 2 1 1 1 1

answered Oct 24, 2018 at 16:29

r2evans

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