[size=10.000000pt]The [size=10.000000pt]lattice [size=10.000000pt]package is software that extends the [size=10.000000pt]R [size=10.000000pt]language and environmentfor statistical computing (R Development Core Team, 2007) by providinga coherent set of tools to produce statistical graphics with an emphasis onmultivariate data. It is modeled on the Trellis suite in [size=10.000000pt]S [size=10.000000pt]and [size=10.000000pt]S-PLUS[size=7.000000pt]⃝[size=5.000000pt]R [size=10.000000pt]. Fromthe user’s point of view, it is a self-contained system that is largely independentof other graphics facilities in [size=10.000000pt]R[size=10.000000pt]. This book is about [size=10.000000pt]lattice[size=10.000000pt], and is primarilyintended for (1) both long-time and new [size=10.000000pt]R [size=10.000000pt]users looking for a powerful systemto produce conventional statistical graphics, (2) existing [size=10.000000pt]lattice [size=10.000000pt]users willingto learn a little bit of [size=10.000000pt]R [size=10.000000pt]programming to gain increased flexibility, and (3)developers who wish to implement new graphical displays building on theinfrastructure already available in [size=10.000000pt]lattice[size=10.000000pt].
                                        [size=10.000000pt]Why [size=10.000000pt]lattice[size=10.000000pt]?
                                        [size=10.000000pt]Graphics can effectively complement statistical data analysis in various ways.Successful graphics arise from a combination of good design and good imple-mentation. In this day and age, implementation is almost exclusively drivenby computers. There is no lack of software tools that allow their users to con-vert data into graphics; [size=10.000000pt]lattice [size=10.000000pt]is yet another candidate in this ever-wideningpool.
                                        [size=10.000000pt]What makes [size=10.000000pt]lattice [size=10.000000pt]stand out? A good general-purpose tool should not getin the way of the user, yet it should be flexible enough to enable most tasks(without undue difficulty), whether it be standard, slightly out of the ordinary,or entirely novel. [size=10.000000pt]lattice [size=10.000000pt]tries to meet this standard by being a high-level toolthat produces structured graphics, while retaining flexibility by systematicallydecoupling the various elements of a display; the individual elements havewell thought-out defaults, but these can be overridden for detailed control.The end-product is a system that allows the creation of common statisticalgraphics, often with fairly complex structure, with very simple code. At thesame time, it allows various degrees of customization, without requiring undueeffort.