cell2struct

Convert cell array to structure array

Syntax

structArray = cell2struct(cellArray,fields)

structArray = cell2struct(cellArray,fields,dim)

Description

structArray = cell2struct(cellArray,fields) creates a structure array from the information contained in the cell array and using the specified field names. The function assigns each row of the cell array to the corresponding field name in the structure.

structArray = cell2struct(cellArray,fields,dim) assigns the data sets along the dimension dim of the cell array to the corresponding field name in the structure. For example, specify 2 for dim to assign each column of the cell array to the corresponding field name.

Examples

Convert Cell Array of Temperature Data to Structure

Create a cell array that stores high and low temperatures for five days.

T(1,:) = {"highs",[44,38,46,43,48]};
T(2,:) = {"lows",[35,31,32,28,35]}

T=2×2 cell array
    {["highs"]}    {[44 38 46 43 48]}
    {["lows" ]}    {[35 31 32 28 35]}

Use the first column of data in the cell array to define field names for the structure.

fields = [T{:,1}]

fields = 1x2 string
    "highs"    "lows"

Copy the temperature data from the second column of the cell array into a cell array named temps.

temps = T(:,2)

temps=2×1 cell array
    {[44 38 46 43 48]}
    {[35 31 32 28 35]}

Call cell2struct with the temps cell array and field names as inputs. MATLAB assigns each row of data from temps to the corresponding field name.

Tstruct = cell2struct(temps,fields)

Tstruct = struct with fields:
    highs: [44 38 46 43 48]
     lows: [35 31 32 28 35]

Index into the structure to get the low temperature for the third day.

Tstruct.lows(3)

ans = 
32

Specify Dimension When Converting Cell Array to Structure

Create a cell array that contains anonymous patient information, including an ID number, body temperature, and blood pressure.

patients(1,:) = {"A134",98.5,[124 85]};
patients(2,:) = {"B267",99.1,[109 77]};
patients(3,:) = {"C889",97.9,[120 81]}

patients=3×3 cell array
    {["A134"]}    {[98.5000]}    {[124 85]}
    {["B267"]}    {[99.1000]}    {[109 77]}
    {["C889"]}    {[97.9000]}    {[120 81]}

Create a vector of field names to use for the struct.

fields = ["PatientID","BodyTemp","BloodPressure"];

To associate each column of data in the cell array with the corresponding field name in the structure, call cell2struct with the dimension set to 2.

patientStruct = cell2struct(patients,fields,2)

patientStruct=3×1 struct array with fields:
    PatientID
    BodyTemp
    BloodPressure

Retrieve the blood pressure of patient C889 in the newly created structure array.

patientC889BP = patientStruct(3).BloodPressure

patientC889BP = 1×2

   120    81

Input Arguments

cellArray — Cell array to convert to structure

cell array

The cell array to be converted to a structure array.

fields — Names of structure array fields

string array | cell array of character vectors

The names of the structure array fields, specified as a string array or cell array of character vectors. The number of field names must match the number of the number of cells along the dimension specified by dim.

dim — Dimension along which to split cell array

1 (default) | positive integer

The dimension along which to split the cell array, specified as a positive integer. For example, the default value of 1 assigns each row of the cell array to the corresponding field name in fields. Specify 2 to assign each column of the cell array to the corresponding field name.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation

Generate C and C++ code using MATLAB® Coder™.

Usage notes and limitations:

• The input arguments fields and dim must be compile-time constants.

Thread-Based Environment

Run code in the background using MATLAB® backgroundPool or accelerate code with Parallel Computing Toolbox™ ThreadPool.

This function fully supports thread-based environments. For more information, see Run MATLAB Functions in Thread-Based Environment.

Distributed Arrays

Partition large arrays across the combined memory of your cluster using Parallel Computing Toolbox™.

This function fully supports distributed arrays. For more information, see Run MATLAB Functions with Distributed Arrays (Parallel Computing Toolbox).

Version History

Introduced before R2006a