Recursive detach

detach-recursive.R

detach_recursive <- function(name, ...) {
  stopifnot(!missing(name), is.character(name))
  params <- list(...)
  params$name <- name
  params$character.only <- TRUE
  
  repeat {
    if (inherits(try(do.call(detach, params), silent = TRUE), "try-error")) {
      break
    }
  }
} 

output.R

search()
#>  [1] ".GlobalEnv"        "package:stats"     "package:graphics" 
#>  [4] "package:grDevices" "package:utils"     "package:datasets" 
#>  [7] "package:methods"   "Autoloads"         "tools:callr"      
#> [10] "package:base"
invisible(replicate(10, attach(iris, warn.conflicts = FALSE)))
search()
#>  [1] ".GlobalEnv"        "iris"              "iris"             
#>  [4] "iris"              "iris"              "iris"             
#>  [7] "iris"              "iris"              "iris"             
#> [10] "iris"              "iris"              "package:stats"    
#> [13] "package:graphics"  "package:grDevices" "package:utils"    
#> [16] "package:datasets"  "package:methods"   "Autoloads"        
#> [19] "tools:callr"       "package:base"
detach_recursive("iris")
search()
#>  [1] ".GlobalEnv"        "package:stats"     "package:graphics" 
#>  [4] "package:grDevices" "package:utils"     "package:datasets" 
#>  [7] "package:methods"   "Autoloads"         "tools:callr"      
#> [10] "package:base"