R: How to define + sign as an operator to connect strings like in Python?

Question

Since I have to use paste function heavily in practice, I wonder whether we can use a specific sign or operator like "+"or "++" to connect strings like in Python.

So we can have

con = "a" + "b"

then con becomes "a b" or "ab".

And would there be any side effects if we do so?

If you don't mind using the percent method `'%+%' <- function(x,y) paste(x,y)` — Pierre L, Feb 07 '17 at 02:30

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 07 '17 at 02:32

1

You need to overwrite "+" operation but this is not a recommend method.

A very quick implementation as below. More general, you need to handle different inputs in the function and return the original "+" when the inputs are not strings.

"+" <- function(a, b) {
  paste(a, b)
}
> "12" + "34"
[1] "12 34"

answered Feb 07 '17 at 02:32

Patric

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I guess If we use `++`, there will be less likely to cause side effects. – John Feb 07 '17 at 02:39

R: How to define + sign as an operator to connect strings like in Python?

1 Answers1