title: What type of object is an R package?
body: <p>Probably a pretty basic question but a friend and I tried to run <code>str(packge_name)</code> and R threw us an error.  Now that I'm looking at it, I'm wondering if an R package is like a .zip file in that it is a collection of objects, say pictures and songs, but not a picture or song itself. </p>
  
  <p>If I tried to open a zip of pictures with an image viewer, it wouldn't know what to do until I unzipped it - just like I can't call <code>str(forecast)</code> but I can call <code>str(ts)</code> once I've loaded the forecast package into my library...</p>
  
  <p>Can anyone set me straight?</p>