R Markdown Basics
Create reproducible reports by combining text, code, and outputs in a single document.
R Markdown Basics is a free R Academy lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 1 of 3. Any 3 lessons of this learning path are free to read in full — after that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus hands-on practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the R Academy learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The R Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.
Introduction to R Markdown
R Markdown is a powerful tool for creating dynamic reports that combine code, text, and visualizations in a single document.
Installing R Markdown
Before using R Markdown, install and load the package.
install.packages('rmarkdown')
library(rmarkdown)Creating an R Markdown File
To create a new R Markdown document in RStudio:
- Go to
File→New File→R Markdown... - Select a title and output format (HTML, PDF, or Word).
Basic Structure of an R Markdown File
An R Markdown document consists of three main sections:
- YAML Header: Contains metadata (title, author, date).
- Markdown Content: Includes formatted text.
- Code Chunks: Runs R code inside the document.
---
title: 'My Report'
author: 'John Doe'
date: '2025-03-10'
output: html_document
---Adding Code Chunks
Use triple backticks (```{r}) to add R code chunks inside an R Markdown file.
```{r}
summary(mtcars)
```Rendering an R Markdown Document
Click the Knit button in RStudio to convert the document into an HTML, PDF, or Word file.
Adding Plots
R Markdown allows embedding plots directly within documents.
```{r}
plot(mtcars$mpg, mtcars$hp, main='MPG vs Horsepower')
```Exporting Reports
R Markdown allows exporting reports in multiple formats, including HTML, PDF, and Word.
R Markdown Summary
Summary
In this lesson, you learned:
- How to create and structure an R Markdown document.
- How to add code chunks and plots.
- How to render and export reports in different formats.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the “R Markdown Basics” lesson free?
Yes — any 3 lessons of the R Academy learning path, including “R Markdown Basics”, are free to read in full here on the web. After that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus interactive practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. The R Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.
What will I learn in “R Markdown Basics”?
Create reproducible reports by combining text, code, and outputs in a single document. You practise R Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start R Academy?
No prior experience is required. R Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 1 of 3.
How long does the “R Markdown Basics” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this R Academy lesson?
Yes. Every R Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- R Markdown Basics
- Introduction to Shiny Apps
- Deployment and Best Practices