Error In Storage.mode(x) <- "double" : (list) Object Cannot Be Coerced To Type 'double' (Resolved)

---
title: Fixing the Error in storage.mode(x) <- 'double': List Object Cannot Be Coerced to Type 'Double' - A Comprehensive Guide
description: Learn how to fix the "List Object Cannot Be Coerced to Type 'Double'" error when using storage.mode(x) <- 'double' in R programming.
---

  

R programming is a powerful scripting language with built-in data types and functions for data manipulation, statistical computing, and data visualization. One common error encountered in R programming is the "List Object Cannot Be Coerced to Type 'Double'" error when using `storage.mode(x) <- 'double'`. In this guide, we will provide you with a step-by-step solution to fix this error and answer some frequently asked questions.

## Table of Contents

- [Understanding the Error](#understanding-the-error)
- [Step-by-Step Solution](#step-by-step-solution)
- [FAQs](#faqs)

## Understanding the Error

The error "List Object Cannot Be Coerced to Type 'Double'" occurs when you try to change the storage mode of a list object to 'double' using the `storage.mode()` function. The `storage.mode()` function is used to modify the internal storage mode of an object in R. However, it does not work with list objects since lists are generic vectors that can hold elements of different types, and coercing them to 'double' is not possible.

```R
x <- list(1, 2, 3)
storage.mode(x) <- 'double'

Error:

Error in storage.mode(x) <- "double" : 
  (list) object cannot be coerced to type 'double'

Step-by-Step Solution

To fix this error, you need to convert the list object to a numeric vector before changing its storage mode. Follow these steps:

Convert the list object to a numeric vector

Use the unlist() function to convert the list object into a numeric vector. The unlist() function flattens a list into a single vector.

x <- list(1, 2, 3)
x <- unlist(x)

Change the storage mode

Now that the list object has been converted to a numeric vector, you can change its storage mode to 'double' using the storage.mode() function.

storage.mode(x) <- 'double'

Verify the result

Check the storage mode of the object to ensure that it has been changed to 'double'.

print(storage.mode(x))

Output:

[1] "double"

FAQs

1. What is the difference between storage.mode() and mode() in R?

The storage.mode() function in R is used to get or set the internal storage mode of an object, whereas the mode() function is used to get or set the basic type or mode of an object. The storage mode is more specific than the mode, and the mode is more user-friendly. For example, the mode of both integer and numeric types is "numeric", but their storage modes are "integer" and "double", respectively.

2. Can I change the storage mode of a list object to 'integer'?

You cannot change the storage mode of a list object directly to 'integer' using the storage.mode() function, as lists are generic vectors that can hold elements of different types. However, you can convert the list object to a numeric vector using the unlist() function and then change its storage mode to 'integer'.

3. How do I change the mode of a list object to 'numeric'?

To change the mode of a list object to 'numeric', you can use the lapply() function to apply the as.numeric() function to each element of the list.

x <- list(1, 2, 3)
x <- lapply(x, as.numeric)

4. What are other common R storage modes?

Some common R storage modes include "logical", "integer", "double", "complex", "character", and "raw". Each storage mode represents a specific data type in R.

5. How do I change the storage mode of a factor object to 'double'?

To change the storage mode of a factor object to 'double', you first need to convert the factor object to a numeric vector using the as.numeric() function and then change its storage mode to 'double' using the storage.mode() function.

x <- factor(c(1, 2, 3))
x <- as.numeric(x)
storage.mode(x) <- 'double'

R Data Types and Structures - Learn about different data types and structures in R.
R Unlist Function - Learn about the unlist() function in R.
R Storage Modes - Learn more about storage modes in R programming.

Fixing the Error in storage.mode(x) <- 'double': List Object Cannot Be Coerced to Type 'Double' - A Comprehensive Guide