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
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 couple of components, is sufficient.

Use what class to list 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

what dirname is the unquoted form of the syntax.

Examples

To list the files in toolbox\matlab\audio,

what audio

M-files in directory matlabroot\toolbox\matlab\audio

Contents    lin2mu      sound       wavread     
auread      mu2lin      soundsc     wavrecord   
auwrite     saxis       wavplay     wavwrite    

MAT-files in directory matlabroot\toolbox\matlab\audio

chirp        handel       splat        
gong         laughter     train        

To obtain a structure array containing the MATLAB filenames in toolbox\ matlab\general, type

s = what('general')
s = 
       path: 'matlabroot:\toolbox\matlab\general'
          m: {105x1 cell}
        mat: {0x1 cell}
        mex: {5x1 cell}
        mdl: {0x1 cell}
          p: {'helpwin.p'}
    classes: {'char'}

See Also

dir, exist, lookfor, path, which, who

weekday

whatsnew