Double Colon and Triple Colon Operators

Description

Accessing exported and internal variables in a name space, or variables in an attached package.

Usage

pkg::name
pkg:::name

Arguments

Details

For a package with a name space, pkg::name returns the value of the exported variable name in name space pkg, whereas pkg:::name returns the value of the internal variable name. The name space will be loaded if it was not loaded before the call, but the package will not be attached to the search path.

If the package pkg does not have a name space but is on the search path then pkg::name returns the value of name in the package environment. Thus pkg::name has the same effect for attached packages whether or not they have a name space.

Specifying a variable that does not exist is an error, as is specifying a package that does not exist or does not have a name space and is not on the search path.

Note that it is typically a design mistake to use ::: in your code since the corresponding object has probably been kept internal for a good reason. Consider contacting the package maintainer if you feel the need to access the object for anything but mere inspection.

See Also

get to access an object masked by another of the same name.

Examples

base::log
base::"+"

## Beware --  use ':::' at your own risk! (see "Details")
stats:::coef.default