This help topic is for R version 2.9.0. For the current version of R, try https://stat.ethz.ch/R-manual/R-patched/library/base/html/ns-dblcolon.html
ns-dblcolon {base}R Documentation

Double Colon and Triple Colon Operators

Description

Accessing exported and internal variables in a name space.

Usage

pkg::name
pkg:::name

Arguments

pkg

package name symbol or literal character string.

name

variable name symbol or literal character string.

Details

The expression pkg::name returns the value of the exported variable name in package pkg if the package has a name space. The expression pkg:::name returns the value of the internal variable name in package pkg if the package has a name space. The package will be loaded if it was not loaded already before the call. Assignment into name spaces is not supported.

Note that it is typically a design mistake to use ::: in your code since the corresponding object has probably been kept namespace-internal for a good reason. Consider contacting the package maintainer if you feel the need to access the object for anything but mere inspection.

If the package pkg does not have a name space but is on the search path then pkg::name returns the value of name in the package environment.

See Also

get to access an object masked by another of the same name.

Examples

base::log
base::"+"

## Beware --  use ':::' at your own risk! (see "Details")
stats:::coef.default

[Package base version 2.9.0 ]