MATLAB Listdir

Introduction

The listdir function in MATLAB is used to obtain a list of files and directories in a given directory. This function helps in programmatic access and manipulation of files and directories within MATLAB. By using the listdir function, programmers can retrieve information about the contents of a directory and perform various operations on the files and directories.

Syntax

The syntax for the listdir function is as follows:

files = listdir(directory)

• directory (required): A string specifying the directory path for which the listing is required.
• files (output): A cell array of strings containing the names of files and directories in the specified directory.

Usage

To use listdir, you need to provide the directory path for which you want to obtain the listing. Here's an example demonstrating its usage:

directory = 'C:\Users\user\Documents';
files = listdir(directory);

This code snippet fetches the list of files and directories in the specified directory and stores the result in the files cell array.

Example Output

The listdir function returns a cell array of strings containing the names of files and directories in the specified directory. Here's an example output showing a hypothetical directory listing:

files = 
  7×1 cell array
    'file1.txt'
    'file2.m'
    'subdir1'
    'subdir2'
    'image.jpg'
    'data.csv'
    'README.md'

Additional Options

The listdir function provides additional options to filter the results or obtain specific information about the listed files and directories:

• Filter by file extension:

  files = listdir(directory, '*.txt');
  

  This code snippet lists only the files with a .txt extension within the specified directory.

• Include subdirectories:

  files = listdir(directory, 'dirs');
  

  By adding the 'dirs' option, the function will include the subdirectory names in the listing.

Conclusion

The listdir function in MATLAB is a useful tool for obtaining a listing of files and directories within a specified directory. It allows programmers to streamline file-processing tasks and automate operations involving multiple files. By leveraging the power of listdir, MATLAB programmers can efficiently work with large datasets, organize files, or perform batch operations on multiple files and directories.