R Markdown Document (.rmd)

The R Markdown files use the RMD file extension. These files are created using RStudio, an open-source Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for the R programming language. RStudio is widely used for statistical computing and data analysis. An RMD file has three main components including YAML metadata, Markdown-formatted text, and chunks of R code. When these files are rendered in RStudio, they can produce sophisticated documents that integrate code, results, and narrative text. This makes them an ideal choice for creating dynamic presentations, reports, and other data-driven documents.

RMD files allow users to write reports, embed R-based data summaries, and export the reports to various formats like HTML, PDF, DOCX, and PPTX, all within a single file. They are versatile and can be used for a range of purposes, from academic research to business analytics. RMD files enable statisticians and data scientists to perform and present their analyses in a reproducible manner. The embedded R code within the document can be executed during the rendering process, which generates graphs or other data summaries directly in the final output. This seamless integration of code and narrative makes RMD files a powerful tool for data storytelling.