`assert` — Throw a MATLAB-style error when a logical or numeric condition evaluates to false.

assert(cond, ...) aborts execution with a MATLAB-compatible error when cond is false or contains any zero/NaN elements. When the condition is true (or an empty array), execution continues with no output. RunMat mirrors MATLAB’s identifier normalisation, message formatting, and argument validation rules.

How `assert` works

The first argument must be logical or numeric (real or complex). Scalars must evaluate to true; arrays must contain only nonzero, non-NaN elements (complex values fail when both real and imaginary parts are zero or contain NaNs). Empty inputs pass automatically.
assert(cond) raises RunMat:assertion:failed with message Assertion failed. when cond is false.
assert(cond, msg, args...) formats msg with sprintf-compatible conversions using any additional arguments.
assert(cond, id, msg, args...) uses a custom message identifier (normalised to RunMat:* when missing a namespace) and the formatted message text.
Arguments are validated strictly: identifiers and message templates must be string scalars or character vectors, and malformed format strings raise RunMat:assertion:invalidInput.
Conditions supplied as gpuArray values are gathered to host memory prior to evaluation so that MATLAB semantics continue to apply.

How RunMat runs `assert` on the GPU

assert is a control-flow builtin. RunMat gathers GPU-resident tensors (including logical gpuArrays) to host memory before evaluating the condition. No GPU kernels are launched, and the acceleration provider metadata is marked as a gather-immediately operation so execution always follows the MATLAB-compatible CPU path. Residency metadata is preserved so subsequent statements observe the same values they would have seen without the assertion.

Examples

Checking that all elements are nonzero

A = [1 2 3];
assert(all(A))

Verifying array bounds during development

signal = 1:20;
idx = 12;
assert(idx >= 1 && idx <= numel(signal), ...
       "Index %d is outside [1, %d].", idx, numel(signal))

Attaching a custom identifier for tooling

M = magic(3);
assert(det(M) ~= 0, "runmat:demo:singularMatrix", ...
       "Matrix must be nonsingular (determinant is zero).")

Guarding GPU computations without manual gathering

G = gpuArray(rand(1024, 1));
assert(all(G > 0), "All entries must be positive.")

Converting NaN checks into assertion failures

samples = [1.0 2.5 3.7 4.2];
avg = mean(samples);
assert(~isnan(avg), "Average must be finite.")

Ensuring structure fields exist before use

cfg = struct("timeout", 30, "rate", 60);
assert(isfield(cfg, "rate"), ...
       "runmat:config:missingField", ...
       "Configuration missing required field '%s'.", "rate")

Detecting invalid enumeration values early

mode = "linear";
valid = ["nearest", "linear", "spline"];
assert(any(mode == valid), ...
       "Invalid interpolation mode '%s'.", mode)

Validating dimensions before expensive work

A = rand(3, 4);
B = rand(4, 5);
assert(size(A, 2) == size(B, 1), ...
       "runmat:demo:dimensionMismatch", ...
       "Inner dimensions must agree (size(A,2)=%d, size(B,1)=%d).", ...
       size(A, 2), size(B, 1))

FAQ

What types can I pass as the condition?⌄

Logical scalars/arrays and numeric scalars/arrays are accepted. Character arrays, strings, cells, structs, and complex values raise RunMat:assertion:invalidCondition.

How are NaN values treated?⌄

Any NaN element causes the assertion to fail, matching MATLAB’s requirement that all elements are non-NaN and nonzero.

Do empty arrays pass the assertion?⌄

Yes. Empty logical or numeric arrays are treated as true.

Can I omit the namespace in the message identifier?⌄

Yes. RunMat prefixes unqualified identifiers with RunMat: to match MATLAB behaviour.

What happens if my format string is malformed?⌄

The builtin raises RunMat:assertion:invalidInput describing the formatting issue.

Does assert run on the GPU?⌄

No. GPU tensors are gathered automatically and evaluated on the CPU to preserve MATLAB semantics.

Can I use strings for messages and identifiers?⌄

Yes. Both character vectors and string scalars are accepted for identifiers and message templates.

What value does assert return when the condition is true?⌄

Like MATLAB, assert has no meaningful return value. RunMat returns 0.0 internally to satisfy the runtime but nothing is produced in MATLAB code.

How do I disable assertions in production code?⌄

Wrap the condition in an if statement controlled by your own flag; MATLAB (and RunMat) always evaluates assert.

How do I distinguish assertion failures from other errors?⌄

Provide a custom identifier (for example runmat:module:assertFailed) and catch it in a try/catch block.

error · rethrow · warning

Open-source implementation

Unlike proprietary runtimes, every RunMat function is open-source. Read exactly how assert works, line by line, in Rust.

View assert.rs on GitHub
Learn how the runtime works
Found a bug? Open an issue with a minimal reproduction.

About RunMat

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assert — Throw a MATLAB-style error when a logical or numeric condition evaluates to false.

How assert works

How RunMat runs assert on the GPU