number <- 42L
s1 <- as.character(number)
# s1 = 42
# Zero-padded to 3 digits
s2 <- sprintf("%03d", number)
# s2 = 042
# The same with formatC
s3 <- formatC(number, width = 3, flag = "0")
# s3 = 042
# paste0() converts by itself
s4 <- paste0("No. ", number)
# s4 = No. 42
cat("s1 =", s1, "\n")
cat("s2 =", s2, "\n")
cat("s3 =", s3, "\n")
cat("s4 =", s4, "\n")
# No implicit conversion with +
msg <- tryCatch("No. " + number,
error = conditionMessage)
cat("msg =", msg, "\n")
# msg = non-numeric argument to binary operator