UpSetR: an R package for the visualization of intersecting sets and their properties

Area of Science:

• Data visualization
• Bioinformatics
• Computational biology

Background:

• Venn and Euler diagrams are popular but inadequate for quantitative visualization of set intersections.
• A need exists for scalable alternatives to visualize intersecting sets and their properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce UpSetR, an open-source R package for scalable visualization of set intersections.

Main Methods:

• Developed UpSetR, an open-source R package.
• Employs a scalable matrix-based visualization technique.

Main Results:

• UpSetR effectively visualizes intersections of sets.
• The package displays the size and other properties of these intersections.
• Provides a scalable alternative to traditional Venn and Euler diagrams.

Conclusions:

• UpSetR offers a robust solution for quantitative visualization of set intersections.
• The R package enhances the analysis of complex biological datasets with multiple intersecting sets.