Assign Column Names Based On Existing Row in R (2 Examples)

 

This tutorial illustrates how to convert the values in a row to the header of a data frame in R.

The page looks as follows:

Here’s how to do it:

 

Creation of Exemplifying Data

The following data will be used as basement for this R tutorial:

data <- data.frame(x1 = letters[1:5],    # Create example data
                   x2 = "x",
                   x3 = LETTERS[9:5])
data                                     # Print example data

 

table 1 data frame assign column names based on existing row r

 

As you can see based on Table 1, our example data is a data frame consisting of five rows and three columns.

 

Example 1: Convert First Row to Header of Data Frame

Example 1 illustrates how to use the first row of a data frame as variable names.

data_new <- data                         # Duplicate data frame
colnames(data_new) <- data[1, ]          # Convert first row to header
data_new                                 # Print updated data frame

 

table 2 data frame assign column names based on existing row r

 

After executing the previous R syntax the data frame revealed in Table 2 has been created. As you can see, the column names of this data frame are equal to the values of the first row.

 

Example 2: Remove Header Row from Data Frame

In Example 2, I’ll explain how to remove the row containing the values that we have used as header (i.e. the first row).

Have a look at the following R code:

data_new <- data_new[- 1, ]              # Remove first row of data
data_new                                 # Print updated data frame

 

table 3 data frame assign column names based on existing row r

 

By running the previous code we have created Table 3, i.e. our data frame without the first row.

 

Video, Further Resources & Summary

Would you like to learn more about column names? Then I recommend watching the following video of my YouTube channel. I’m explaining the R syntax of this tutorial in the video instruction:

 

Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.

YouTube Content Consent Button Thumbnail

YouTube privacy policy

If you accept this notice, your choice will be saved and the page will refresh.

 

Furthermore, you may read the related articles of my website. I have released numerous articles already.

 

This tutorial has illustrated how to use a row as column names in R programming. In case you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments.

 

Subscribe to the Statistics Globe Newsletter

Get regular updates on the latest tutorials, offers & news at Statistics Globe.
I hate spam & you may opt out anytime: Privacy Policy.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Please enter a valid email address.

Top