MATLAB Function Reference

what

List MATLAB specific files in current directory

Graphical Interface

As an alternative to the what function, use the Current Directory browser. To open it, select Current Directory from the View menu in the MATLAB desktop.

Syntax

• what
  what dirname
  what class
  s = what('dirname')
  

Description

what lists the M, MAT, MEX, MDL, and P-files and the class directories that reside in the current working directory.

what dirname lists the files in directory dirname on the MATLAB search path. It is not necessary to enter the full pathname of the directory. The last component, or last two components, is sufficient.

what class lists the files in method directory, @class. For example, what cfit lists the MATLAB files in toolbox/curvefit/curvefit/@cfit.

s = what('dirname') returns the results in a structure array with these fields.

Field	Description
path	Path to directory
m	Cell array of M-file names
mat	Cell array of MAT-file names
mex	Cell array of MEX-file names
mdl	Cell array of MDL-file names
p	Cell array of P-file names
classes	Cell array of class names

Examples

List the files in toolbox/matlab/audio:

• what audio
  
  M-files in directory matlabroot/toolbox/matlab/audio
  
  Contents            auread              soundsc
  audiodevinfo        auwrite             wavplay
  audioplayer         lin2mu              wavread
  audioplayerreg      mu2lin              wavrecord
  audiorecorder       prefspanel          wavwrite
  audiorecorderreg    saxis
  audiouniquename     sound
  
  MAT-files in directory matlabroot/toolbox/matlab/audio
  
  chirp        handel       splat
  gong         laughter     train
  

Obtain a structure array containing the MATLAB filenames in toolbox/ matlab/general.

• s = what('general')
  s = 
         path: 'matlabroot:\toolbox\matlab\general'
            m: {104x1 cell}
          mat: {0x1 cell}
          mex: {5x1 cell}
          mdl: {0x1 cell}
            p: {'helpwin.p'}
      classes: {'char'}
  

See Also

dir, exist, lookfor, path, which, who

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