Checking the range of input arguments

I have a function where two of the input parameters (a and b) must be within the range . So I have written the following code to check if the input arguments are valid:

if ~(varargin{1} > 0 && varargin{1} < 1), error('Parameters must be in the interval [0,1]')
else
a = varargin{1};
end

if ~(varargin{2} > 0 && varargin{2} < 1), error('Parameters must be in the interval [0,1]')
else
b = varargin{2};
end

But I am repeating the same process twice, so I am wondering if there is a more compact way to apply the same criterion to both parameters simultaneously. Is there a shorter way to write this code?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

[Guillaume]

Do you actually need to use varargin? It doesn't appear to server any purpose here, if you always assign the same variable.It looks like it just complicates your code unnecessary.

The only difference between the two blocks of code is the assignment to a different variable, so the question is: do these need to be in a different variable? Most likely, the answer is no. You could just keep referring to them as varargin{1} and varargin{2} and stuff them together in the same array (assuming the two variables are the same size and shape). If you do that, you can wrap your test in a loop:

for vidx = 1:2
    if ~(varargin{vidx} > 0 && varagin{vidx} < 1)
        error('Parameter %d must be in the interval [0,1]', vidx));
    end
end
%keep using varargin{1} and varargin{2}, or
params =[varargin{1:2}];  %concatenate into a vector (assuming scalar)

However, personally, I'd use validateattributes and bearing in mind that as I said, varargin is not needed this is what I'd use:

function myfun(a, b, varargin)  %if there's some more inputs required as varargin
    validateattributes(a, {'numeric'}, {'scalar', 'finite', 'real', '>', 0, '<', 1}, 1, 'myfun');
    validateattributes(b, {'numeric'}, {'scalar', 'finite', 'real', '>', 0, '<', 1}, 2, 'myfun');
    %... rest of the code
end

With validateattributes you're checking a lot more than just being in the range (0,1), you're also making sure that the numbers are not complex, are the right size, etc.

Answer 2

[Sajeer Modavan]

if ~(varargin{1,2} > 0 && varargin{1,2} < 1), error('Parameters must be in the interval [0,1]')
else
a = varargin{1};
b = varargin{2};
end

[Guillaume]

varargin is always a row vector. So varargin{1, 2} is always equivalent to varargin{2}.

The above only checks that the 2nd argument is valid.