[R] How to Change Variable Names

This post covers how to change variable names in R Studio.

1. Preparation

We will use rename() function in dplyr package, so install the package and load it.

install.packages("dplyr") #installing dplyr
library(dplyr) #loading dplyr

Also, it is always wise to make a copy of the original data frame before changing the variable names.

new df name <- original df name  #syntax structure
df1 <- df_raw #example

2. Changing Variable Names

Now we use rename() function.
Basically we are changing the data frame, but only the content, a variable in this case, so the name of the data frame does not have to be changed.
The exmaple below means that I changed the name of the variable from 'sex' to 'gender' in a data frame named 'df1'.

df name <- rename(df name, new v name = original v name) #syntax structure
df1 <- rename(df1, gender = sex) #example

(Thumbnail image: photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash)