ggplot2 can serve as a replacement for the base graphics in R and contains a number of defaults for web and print display of common scales.

"[7] In contrast to base R graphics, ggplot2 allows the user to add, remove or alter components in a plot at a high level of abstraction.

[9] Creating separate plots for various subsets of data in base R requires loops and manual management, whereas ggplot2 simplifies that process with a collection of "facet" functions to choose from.

[10] One potential limitation of base R graphics is the "pen-and-paper model" utilized to populate the plotting device.

[12] In this respect it is similar to the lattice package, though Wickham argues ggplot2 inherits a more formal model of graphics from Wilkinson.