setNames(v, n) is a shorthand form for names(v) <- n. vec_a <- setNames(c( 42, 99, 3, 18, 5), c('val_1', 'val_2', 'val_3', 'val_4', 'val_5'))
vec_a
#
# val_1 val_2 val_3 val_4 val_5
# 42 99 3 18 5
vec_b <- c( 5, 27, 13, 48, 19)
names(vec_b) <- c('val_1', 'val_2', 'val_3', 'val_4', 'val_5')
vec_b
#
# val_1 val_2 val_3 val_4 val_5
# 5 27 13 48 19
setNames() is used on objects where the names attribute makes sense.