exist

Check whether a name exists in the workspace, on disk, or as a built-in.

Syntax

tf = exist(name)
tf = exist(name, kind)

Description

Returns an integer code indicating what (if anything) the name name refers to:

• 0 — does not exist
• 1 — workspace variable
• 2 — file (script or data file) on the path
• 5 — built-in MATLAB function
• 7 — directory on the path
• 8 — class

With the optional kind argument ('var', 'file', 'class', 'builtin', 'dir'), restricts the search to that one type.

Examples

exist('x')               % 1 if x is a workspace variable
exist('plot', 'builtin') % 5

See also

• who — List names of variables in the workspace.
• whos — List variables in the workspace with detailed info.
• isvarname — Test whether a string is a valid variable name.