Should I learn Python or R or both? (2024)

To a biologist or biomedical scientist starting out in Data Science, it may seem as if these two languages are interchangeable, and for some functionalities they are. However, there are clear distinctions between them too, and the answer is “it depends on what you’re trying to do”.

Python is based on C, it is a software development language which is deep and huge and intuitive. It is easier to learn than many other languages, and you don’t need to be totally fluent in order to make use of it for genomics or other biological data analysis. It can do some statistics, and is a great scripting language to help you link your workflow or pipeline components together. Think of it as connective tissue.

R is a statistical and visualization language which is deep and huge and mathematical. Once you know your way around it you can conduct statistical analysis of almost anything, and you need a good degree of fluency in order to make best use of it. It can be used as a scripting language but that is not its strength. Think of it as muscle fibers.

We surveyed several respected tech and data science websites, and came to the following general consensus:

  • Python is a generic programming language with which you can build things, and R is a great statistical platform with which you can analyze and plot things.
  • In the context of biomedical data science, learn Python first, then learn enough R to be able to get your analysis done, unless the lab that you’re in is R-dependent, in which case learn R and fill in the gaps with enough Python for easier scripting purposes.
  • If you learn both, you can R code into Python using rpy

For more discussion on Python and R for data science, please visit the following websites:

  • KDnuggets has an extensive comparison
  • ReadWrite explains the cultural differences between them
  • DataCamp has a summary infographic:
  • The Data School blog approaches it from the teaching perspective
Should I learn Python or R or both? (2024)

FAQs

Should I learn Python or R or both? ›

If you're passionate about the statistical calculation and data visualization portions of data analysis, R could be a good fit for you. If, on the other hand, you're interested in becoming a data scientist and working with big data, artificial intelligence, and deep learning algorithms, Python would be the better fit.

Is it worth learning both Python and R? ›

Both languages are well suited for any data science tasks you may think of. The Python vs R debate may suggest that you have to choose either Python or R. While this may be true for newcomers to the discipline, in the long run, you'll likely need to learn both.

Should you learn R or Python first? ›

In the context of biomedical data science, learn Python first, then learn enough R to be able to get your analysis done, unless the lab that you're in is R-dependent, in which case learn R and fill in the gaps with enough Python for easier scripting purposes. If you learn both, you can R code into Python using rpy.

Why learn R instead of Python? ›

Python's statistical packages are less powerful. R's statistical packages are highly powerful. Python is mainly used when the data analysis needs to be integrated with web applications. R is generally used when the data analysis task requires standalone computation(analysis) and processing.

Is Python replacing R? ›

Yes, Python can replace R because there are some tools (like as the feather package) that allow us to interchange data and code between R and Python in a same project.

Which is more in demand R or Python? ›

How do I choose between Python and R? There's no wrong choice when it comes to learning Python or R. Both are in-demand skills and will allow you to perform just about any data analytics task you'll encounter. Which one is better for you will ultimately come down to your background, interests, and career goals.

Why is Python harder than R? ›

R can be challenging for beginners to learn due to its nonstandardized code. Python is usually easier for most learners and has a smoother linear curve. In addition, Python requires less coding time since it's easier to maintain and has a syntax similar to the English language.

Can Python do everything R can? ›

When it comes to data analysis and data science, most things that you can do in R can also be done in Python, and vice versa. Usually, new data science algorithms are implemented in both languages. But performance, syntax, and implementations may differ between the two languages for certain algorithms.

What is the best age to learn Python? ›

Introduction to Python is geared toward kids 12 and older. Kids start by learning about coding fundamentals such as variables, loops, and if/then statements. From there, they progress to working with graphics and eventually to building games.

How long does it take to learn R or Python? ›

R is considered one of the more difficult programming languages to learn due to how different its syntax is from other languages like Python and its extensive set of commands. It takes most learners without prior coding experience roughly four to six weeks to learn R. Of course, this depends on several factors.

Do data scientists use R? ›

As a programming language, R provides objects, operators and functions that allow users to explore, model and visualize data. R is used for data analysis. R in data science is used to handle, store and analyze data. It can be used for data analysis and statistical modeling.

Is Python really the future? ›

Conclusion. The future of python in 2022 is very promising. It will remain in the leading position among the other coding languages. So if you are considering learning it or using it for your software development project, this is a fantastic choice.

Will Python ever be outdated? ›

Far from being outdated, Python is a language that continues to evolve, innovate, and adapt to meet the needs of the modern world.

Does anyone use Python anymore? ›

Open-source programming language Python has become one of the few languages that won't disappear anytime soon. It's the top or one of the top two languages in most notable language popularity indexes, and even looks set to beat Java these days.

Can R and Python work together? ›

Using R and Python together at the same time is incredibly easy if you already have your R scripts prepared. Calling them from Python boils down to a single line of code.

Should I learn Python or R for finance? ›

I think both languages have similar learning curves, but I think most people will feel at home faster with R. However, if you goal is to truly dive deep into coding, you should definitely choose Python. Python is a general purpose programming language, and has much broader set of use cases than R.

Should I learn both R and Python reddit? ›

If you want to work as junior coder in Data Science, Python is obvious choice. If you want to enrich your domain experience by Data Science technologies, refresh college statistics or econometrics, learn something new related to quantitative finance, go R.

How long does it take to learn R if you know Python? ›

If you have experience in any programming language, it takes 7 days to learn R programming spending at least 3 hours a day. If you are a beginner, it takes 3 weeks to learn R programming. In the second week, learn concepts like how to create, append, subset datasets, lists, join.

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