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SPECIFICTION
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data.table

rdatatable.gitlab.io

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
Visit rdatatable.gitlab.io
Spec score 8.5 #11 of 37 in Data Transformation Tools

What it is

data.table is a free R package providing a high-performance version of base R’s data.frame. Its code interface supports filtering, grouping, aggregation, ordered and rolling joins, overlapping and non-equi joins, reshaping with dcast and melt, and adding, updating, or deleting columns. fread() reads delimited text, including CSV, TSV, compressed .gz and .bz2 files, and can source web URLs or shell commands. fwrite() writes delimited files with an emphasis on speed for large files. Many operations use multiple CPU threads internally. Columns can be changed by reference without copies, and the project reports no external Imports, LinkingTo, or Depends dependencies. Queries can call R functions from other packages. data.table runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and requires base R. It is self-hosted and licensed under MPL-2.0. The project’s stated scope excludes binary formats such as Parquet and data stored on disk or in remote SQL databases.

Spec sheet

What it does
data.table provides a high-performance version of base R’s data.frame with syntax and feature enhancements.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Integrations
data.table is an R package and can use R functions from other packages in queries.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Support
The project directs users who need help to the data.table community on Stack Overflow.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
License
The project repository identifies its license as MPL-2.0.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Community support
The project directs users who need help to its active Stack Overflow community.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Data operations
It supports filtering, grouping, aggregation, joins, reshaping, and adding, updating, or deleting columns.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Dependencies
The project says it has no dependencies other than base R.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
File export
The package includes fwrite, a fast writer for delimited files.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
File format limit
Reading and writing binary files such as Parquet is listed as outside the project’s current scope.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
File import
The package includes fread, a fast reader for delimited files.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
File input
Its fread() function reads delimited files and can read directly from web URLs or shell commands.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
File output
Its fwrite() function writes delimited files and is optimized for speed on large files.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Funding
The data.table project is fiscally sponsored by NumFOCUS and accepts donations to support project needs.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Governance
The project uses a custom governance agreement and is fiscally sponsored by NumFOCUS.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Joins
Its join features include ordered, rolling, overlapping range, and non-equi joins.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Memory behavior
Columns can be added, updated, or deleted by reference without making copies.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Memory use
The project describes data.table as memory efficient and says columns can be added, updated, or deleted by reference without copies.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Out-of-memory limit
Manipulating data stored on disk or in remote SQL databases is listed as outside the project’s current scope.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Parallel processing
Many common operations are internally parallelized to use multiple CPU threads.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
R compatibility
The project says it continuously tests against R 3.5.0, its stated current oldest supported R dependency.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Reshaping
It supports reshaping data with dcast and melt.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io
Supported systems
The installation guide lists Linux, Mac, and Windows.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
What it is
data.table is an R package that provides a high-performance version of base R’s data.frame.Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io

Plans and prices

data.table Free R package; requires base R Read 8 Oct 2026 · rdatatable.gitlab.io

Every data.table plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free package for base R
  • Fast delimited-file input and output
  • Parallel processing for many operations
  • By-reference column changes avoid copies
  • No external package dependencies

Limits

  • Binary formats such as Parquet are out of scope
  • No on-disk or remote SQL data manipulation
  • Requires base R
  • Self-hosted code interface only

Who it suits

It suits R users working with large tabular datasets through code on Linux, macOS, or Windows. Users needing delimited-file processing and in-memory transformations may find its scope appropriate.

Verdict

data.table offers broad, memory-conscious in-memory data operations and fast delimited-file workflows across major desktop operating systems. Its documented boundaries exclude binary formats and data transformations performed directly on disk or remote SQL databases.

Where Specifiction places it

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