Console
The Console is where you talk to R. Think of it as a conversation: you type a command, R processes it, and you see the result right away. It is the quickest way to try ideas, check values, and explore your data without writing a full script.
Your R Command Line
When webR finishes loading, you will see a prompt at the bottom of the screen waiting for input. Type any valid R expression, tap the play button (or press Return on an external keyboard), and the result appears immediately above.
What you are seeing above:
- Output area: the scrollable region that shows everything R has printed, color-coded by type
- Input field: the text field at the bottom preceded by
>, where you type R code - Run button: the blue play icon that executes whatever is in the input field
- R keyboard toolbar: a scrollable strip of common R operators that appears when the keyboard is open
Here is a quick taste of what using the Console feels like. Each line is typed into the input field and executed one at a time:
Each command you type shows up in blue so you can visually separate what you typed from what R returned.
Understanding Output Colors
The Console uses color to help you scan results at a glance. Rather than forcing you to read every line, the colors tell you what kind of message you are looking at:
- Blue: your input commands, prefixed with
> - Default text color: normal R output (anything printed to standard output)
- Green: result values returned by expressions
- Red: errors, meaning something went wrong and R could not complete the operation
- Orange: warnings, meaning R completed the operation but wants you to know something might be off
- Gray: informational messages from R or from packages
Here is an example showing each output type. Try running these commands one at a time:
x <- 1
x
print("hi there!")
message("hello")
warning("uh-oh")
stop("an error appears!")
y
If you see a red error, read it carefully. R’s error messages usually tell you exactly what went wrong. For example, Error: object 'y' not found means you tried to use a variable named y that does not exist yet.
Command History
You do not have to retype commands you have already run. The Console keeps a history of everything you have entered, and there are several ways to access it.
Swipe gestures on the input field. This is the fastest way to cycle through recent commands when you want to re-run or tweak something:
- Swipe up on the input field to load the previous command
- Swipe down to move forward through your history
Search history. For longer sessions where you have run many commands, tap the … menu in the top-right corner and choose Search History. A search sheet appears where you can type a keyword to filter your past commands, then tap any result to load it back into the input field.
History tab. The History tab keeps a persistent log of every command you have executed across sessions. Unlike the console output, which mixes your input with R’s responses, the history is a clean list of just your commands. Tap any entry to load it back into the input field.
If you find yourself running the same sequence of commands repeatedly, consider writing them as a script in the Editor instead.
The R Keyboard Toolbar
When the keyboard is open, a scrollable toolbar appears just above it with buttons for common R symbols and operators. This is the same toolbar you will see in the Editor, and it saves you from hunting through the iOS symbol keyboard for characters you use constantly in R:
<-: the assignment operator|>: the native pipe( )[ ]{ }"": matched pairs that insert both characters at once~: the formula operatorc(): quick vector wrapper::$@: namespace, list, and slot access%in%!&|: logical operators#: comment prefix- Tab: inserts two spaces for indentation
There is also a dismiss keyboard button at the far right of the toolbar so you can quickly hide the keyboard and see more of your output.
Code Completion
As you type in the input field, the Console suggests function names, variable names, and package members. Suggestions appear in a popup above the input field. Tap one to insert it, saving you from typing out long function names.
Clearing the Console
When your output area gets long and you want a fresh start, there are two ways to clear it:
- Tap the trash icon in the top-right toolbar for a quick clear
- Tap the … menu and choose Clear Console
Clearing the console only removes the displayed text. All your variables, loaded packages, and data remain in memory. You are just tidying up the screen, not resetting R.
More Console Features
The … menu in the top-right corner gives you access to several additional tools:
- Export Session: saves your entire console session (all input and output) as text that you can share or save for reference
- Copy All Output: copies everything in the output area to the clipboard
- Word Wrap: toggles whether long output lines wrap to fit the screen or scroll horizontally
- Previous/Next Command: alternative to swipe gestures for navigating history (also available via keyboard shortcuts on external keyboards)
If you have an external keyboard connected, you can use Cmd+K to clear the console, Cmd+Up/Down to navigate history, and Cmd+F to search through your command history.