scope - R: How can a function assign a value to a variable that will persist outside the function? -

this easy confused hell environments. use call function assign value variable, need able use variable after call. however, assume, variable created function exist within function environment. in short, need akin global variable (but beginner r).

the following code :

assignvalue = function(varname){         assign(varname,1)      } assignvalue("test") test 

returns error: object 'test' not found whereas equivalent

test <- 1 test 

i read in documentation of assign environments, not understand it.

say foo parameter of function. this:

assignvalue <- function(foo) {         varname <<- foo } assignvalue("whatever") varname 

the variable varname point out value "whatever".