What is the difference between Python and R?

Python is a general-purpose programming language, while R is a statistical programming language. This means that Python is more versatile and can be used for a wider range of tasks, such as web development, data manipulation, and machine learning. R, on the other hand, is primarily used for statistical analysis and data visualization.

Should you learn R or Python?

It’s not uncommon for data professionals to be well-versed in both languages — using R for some tasks, and Python for others. But if you’re just starting out on your journey, focusing on one language can help you learn the data science skills you’ll need to pursue a career in data, or to see a project through.

Should you use Python or R for data science?

But, Python and R also bring their own unique strengths to data science, making it harder to decide which to use. R is an open-source, interactive environment for doing statistical analysis. It’s not really a programming language at all, but it includes a programming language to help with analysis.