The R formula syntax is wonderfully condensed yet instructive. Python has basically given up coming up with its own syntax and now just use the `patsy` module to use R syntax in Python.
However, this particular syntax has no name. During twitter interactions the last few days, people have suggested “symbolic model notation”, “abridged model notation”, “Wilkinson notation”, and a few others. I think none of them did a good job of delineating this exact short notation, so I looked into the historical origins and posted this Twitter thread (click to read it all):