Frequently Asked Questions About String Arrays
MATLAB introduced the string data type in R2016b. Starting in R2018b, you can use string arrays
to work with text throughout MathWorks products. String arrays store pieces of text and provide a
set of functions for working with text as data. You can index into, reshape, and concatenate strings
arrays just as you can with arrays of any other type. For more information, see “Create String Arrays”
on page 6-5.
In most respects, strings arrays behave like character vectors and cell arrays of character vectors.
However, there are a few key differences between string arrays and character arrays that can lead to
results you might not expect. For each of these differences, there is a recommended way to use
strings that leads to the expected result.
Why Does Using Command Form With Strings Return An Error?
When you use functions such as the cd, dir, copyfile, or load functions in command form, avoid
using double quotes. In command form, arguments enclosed in double quotes can result in errors. To
specify arguments as strings, use functional form.
With command syntax, you separate inputs with spaces rather than commas, and you do not enclose
input arguments in parentheses. For example, you can use the cd function with command syntax to
change folders.
cd C:\Temp
The text C:\Temp is a character vector. In command form, all arguments are always character
vectors. If you have an argument, such as a folder name, that contains spaces, then specify it as one
input argument by enclosing it in single quotes.
cd 'C:\Program Files'
But if you specify the argument using double quotes, then cd throws an error.
cd "C:\Program Files"
Error using cd
Too many input arguments.
The error message can vary depending on the function that you use and the arguments that you
specify. For example, if you use the load function with command syntax and specify the argument
using double quotes, then load throws a different error.
load "myVariables.mat"
Error using load
Unable to read file '"myVariables.mat"': Invalid argument.
In command form, double quotes are treated as part of the literal text rather than as the string
construction operator. If you wrote the equivalent of cd "C:\Program Files" in functional form,
then it would look like a call to cd with two arguments.
cd('"C:\Program','Files"')
When specifying arguments as strings, use function syntax. All functions that support command
syntax also support function syntax. For example, you can use cd with function syntax and input
arguments that are double quoted strings.
Frequently Asked Questions About String Arrays
6-59
MATLAB introduced the string data type in R2016b. Starting in R2018b, you can use string arrays
to work with text throughout MathWorks products. String arrays store pieces of text and provide a
set of functions for working with text as data. You can index into, reshape, and concatenate strings
arrays just as you can with arrays of any other type. For more information, see “Create String Arrays”
on page 6-5.
In most respects, strings arrays behave like character vectors and cell arrays of character vectors.
However, there are a few key differences between string arrays and character arrays that can lead to
results you might not expect. For each of these differences, there is a recommended way to use
strings that leads to the expected result.
Why Does Using Command Form With Strings Return An Error?
When you use functions such as the cd, dir, copyfile, or load functions in command form, avoid
using double quotes. In command form, arguments enclosed in double quotes can result in errors. To
specify arguments as strings, use functional form.
With command syntax, you separate inputs with spaces rather than commas, and you do not enclose
input arguments in parentheses. For example, you can use the cd function with command syntax to
change folders.
cd C:\Temp
The text C:\Temp is a character vector. In command form, all arguments are always character
vectors. If you have an argument, such as a folder name, that contains spaces, then specify it as one
input argument by enclosing it in single quotes.
cd 'C:\Program Files'
But if you specify the argument using double quotes, then cd throws an error.
cd "C:\Program Files"
Error using cd
Too many input arguments.
The error message can vary depending on the function that you use and the arguments that you
specify. For example, if you use the load function with command syntax and specify the argument
using double quotes, then load throws a different error.
load "myVariables.mat"
Error using load
Unable to read file '"myVariables.mat"': Invalid argument.
In command form, double quotes are treated as part of the literal text rather than as the string
construction operator. If you wrote the equivalent of cd "C:\Program Files" in functional form,
then it would look like a call to cd with two arguments.
cd('"C:\Program','Files"')
When specifying arguments as strings, use function syntax. All functions that support command
syntax also support function syntax. For example, you can use cd with function syntax and input
arguments that are double quoted strings.
Frequently Asked Questions About String Arrays
6-59