We develop an algebraic theory of supports for $R$-linear codes of fixed length, where $R$ is a finite commutative unitary ring. A support naturally induces a notion of generalized weights and allows one to associate a monomial ideal to a code. Our main result states that, under suitable assumptions, the generalized weights of a code can be obtained from the graded Betti numbers of its associated monomial ideal. In the case of $\mathbb{F}_q$-linear codes endowed with the Hamming metric, the ideal coincides with the Stanley-Reisner ideal of the matroid associated to the code via its parity-check matrix. In this special setting, we recover the known result that the generalized weights of an $\mathbb{F}_q$-linear code can be obtained from the graded Betti numbers of the ideal of the matroid associated to the code. We also study subcodes and codewords of minimal support in a code, proving that a large class of $R$-linear codes is generated by its codewords of minimal support.