MATLAB Programming Fundamentals - MathWorks

How to Manually Convert Input Arguments

If it is at all possible, avoid manual conversion of input arguments that contain text, and

instead use the convertStringsToChars or convertCharsToStrings functions.

Checking the data types of input arguments and converting them yourself is a tedious

approach, prone to errors.

If you must convert input arguments, then use the functions in this table.

Conversion Function

String scalar to character vector char

String array to cell array of character

vectors

cellstr

Character vector to string scalar string

Cell array of character vectors to string

array

string

How to Check Argument Data Types

To check the data type of an input argument that could contain text, consider using the

patterns shown in this table.

Required Input Argument

Type

Old Check New Check

Character vector or string

scalar

ischar(X) ischar(X) ||

isStringScalar(X)

validateattributes(X,

{'char','string'},

{'scalartext'})

Character vector or string

scalar

validateattributes(X,

{'char'},{'row'})

validateattributes(X,

{'char','string'},

{'scalartext'})

Nonempty character vector

or string scalar

ischar(X) &&

~isempty(X)

(ischar(X) ||

isStringScalar(X)) &&

strlength(X) ~= 0

6 Characters and Strings