Namespacing

Where methods are found?

• in S3, Generic functions are global and live in the global namespace

  • Advantage: Uniform API: summary, print, predict etc.

  • Disadvantage: Must be careful about creating new methods! Homonyms must be avoided, don’t define plot(bank_heist)

• in R6, Encapsulated methods are local: objects with a scope

  • Advantage: No problems with homonyms: meaning of bank_heist$plot() is clear and unambiguous.

  • Disadvantage: Lack of a uniform API, except by convention.