How to Combine Two Columns into One in R dataframe?

In this article, we will discuss how to combine two columns into one in dataframe in R Programming Language. 

Method 1 : Using paste() function

This function is used to join the two columns in the dataframe with a separator.

Syntax:

paste(data$column1, data$column2, sep=" ")

where

• data is the input dataframe
• column1 is the first column
• column2 to is the second column
• sep is the separator to be separated between two columns

Example 1:

R

# create dataframe
data = data.frame(firstname=c("akash", "kyathi", "preethi"),
                  lastname=c("deep", "lakshmi", "savithri"),
                  marks=c(89, 96, 89))

# display
print(data)

# combine first name and last name columns
# with blank separator
data$fullname = paste(data$firstname, data$lastname, sep=" ")

# display
data

Output:

Example 2:

R

# create dataframe
data = data.frame(firstname=c("akash", "kyathi", "preethi"),
                  lastname=c("deep", "lakshmi", "savithri"),
                  marks=c(89, 96, 89))

# display
print(data)

# combine first name and last name columns
# with blank separator
data$fullname = paste(data$firstname, data$lastname, sep="--")

# display
data

Output:

Method 2: Using unite() function

This function is available in tidyr package and we have to load that package and will combine columns.

Syntax:

unite(dataframe, combined_columnname, c(columns))

where,

• dataframe is the input dataframe
• columns are the dataframe columns to be combines
• combined_columnname is the name of the combined column

Example:

R

# import tidyr package
library(tidyr)

# create dataframe
data = data.frame(firstname=c("akash", "kyathi", "preethi"),
                  lastname=c("deep", "lakshmi", "savithri"),
                  marks=c(89, 96, 89))

# display
print(data)

# combine first name and last name columns
# with blank separator
data = unite(data, fullname, c(firstname, lastname))

# display
data

Output: