If matrix=TRUE, a matrix is returned in which the values of each layer are represented by a column (with ncell(x) rows). The values per layer are in cell-order, that is, from top-left, to top-right and then down by row. Use as.matrix for an alternative matrix representation where the number of rows and columns matches that of x, if x has a single layer.
If matrix=FALSE, the values are returned as a vector. In cell-order by layer.