Can you discuss how R handles variable scoping and how it affects global variables?

R uses lexical scoping, also known as static scoping. In lexical scoping, variables are resolved based on their order of definition in the source code. When a variable is referenced within a function, R first looks for that variable within the function's local environment. If not found, it then looks in the environment of the function that called it, and so on, until it reaches the global environment. This scoping behavior ensures that global variables can be accessed within functions but can be overridden by variables with the same name defined within the local environment.