With the recent introduction of R programming version 4.4 this spring, a new built-in data exploration function has been added – sort_by(). This function offers users the capability to filter data tables by multiple columns, providing a streamlined approach to data analysis.
The key advantage of sort_by() lies in its ability to create ordered datasets sorted by columns effortlessly. Users can now present their data in a structured manner without the need for complex syntax or additional functions, simplifying the data manipulation process.
When using sort_by(), users need to specify the column names of a data frame as ordered parameters. The function then arranges the rows of the data frame from the least valuable to the highest valuable observation within the specified columns, enhancing data organization and analysis.
To illustrate the functionality of sort_by(), let’s consider the cars dataset, gtcars, from the gt library. By utilizing this function, users can efficiently view and analyze the dataset within the RStudio viewer, showcasing the power and convenience of the sort_by() function in R programming.