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# R library() and require() Functions - Loading Packages [ R Language Examples](https://example.com/r/r-examples.html) The R **library()** function is used to load installed packages, making their functions available for the current session. **require()** is similar, but returns FALSE instead of throwing an error when the package does not exist. The syntax for both functions is as follows: library(package) require(package) **Parameter Description:** * **package** - Package name (quotes are optional). ## Example ```r # Load built-in package (no installation needed) library(stats) print("stats Package already loaded") # View loaded packages loaded <-search() print("Currently loaded packages:") print(loaded[1:5]) # Safe loading: require doesn't throw error on failure if(require("stats")){ print("stats Package loaded successfully") } # Difference between library and require # library("nonexistent_pkg") # This will error and stop execution result <-require("nonexistent_pkg")# Returns FALSE, doesn't stop print(paste("require return value for non-existent package:", result)) ``` Executing the above code produces the following output: ``` "stats Package already loaded" "Currently loaded packages:" ".GlobalEnv" "package:stats" "package:graphics" "package:grDevices" "package:utils" "stats Package loaded successfully" "require return value for non-existent package: FALSE" ``` > When writing scripts, it is recommended to use **require()** for safe checking: if the package doesn't exist, give a warning instead of interrupting script execution. [ R Language Examples](https://example.com/r/r-examples.html)