exist — Determine whether a variable, file, folder, built-in function, or class exists and return MATLAB-compatible identifiers.

exist(name) returns an integer code that identifies which kind of item named name is currently available. The codes match MATLAB:

| Code | Meaning | | ---- | ------- | | 0 | Item not found | | 1 | Variable in the active workspace | | 2 | File (including scripts and most data files) | | 3 | MEX-file | | 4 | Simulink® model (.slx / .mdl) | | 5 | Built-in MATLAB function | | 6 | P-code (.p / .pp) | | 7 | Folder | | 8 | Class definition |

Pass a second argument to restrict the lookup (for example, 'file', 'dir', 'builtin', 'class', 'mex', 'pcode', 'method', or 'handle'). The builtin mirrors MATLAB semantics for string handling, search order, and numeric return values.

Syntax

tf = exist(name)
tf = exist(name, kind)

• name is a character vector or string scalar identifying what to look up. It may be a simple name ("alpha", "sin"), a file path ("utilities/process_data"), or a package-qualified identifier ("pkg.Widget").
• kind is an optional character vector or string scalar that restricts the search to a single category. Accepted values are 'var', 'file', 'dir', 'builtin', and 'class' (plus the RunMat extensions 'mex', 'pcode', 'method', and 'handle').
• Returns tf, an integer code between 0 and 8: 0 (not found), 1 (variable), 2 (file), 3 (MEX file), 4 (Simulink model), 5 (built-in), 6 (P-code), 7 (folder), 8 (class).
• When kind is omitted, MATLAB precedence applies (variables first, then built-ins, classes, compiled code, files, and folders).

How exist works

• Searches follow MATLAB's precedence: variables first, then built-ins, classes, compiled code (MEX/P-code), standard files, and finally folders.
• When you omit the type, exist returns the first match respecting this precedence.
• String handling matches MATLAB: name and the optional type must be character vectors or string scalars. String arrays must contain exactly one element.
• Paths expand ~ to the user's home folder. Relative paths resolve against the current working directory, and RunMat honours RUNMAT_PATH / MATLABPATH entries when searching for scripts and classes.
• Package-qualified names such as pkg.func and pkg.Class map to +pkg folders automatically. Class queries also recognise @ClassName folders and .m files that contain classdef.
• GPU-resident arguments (for example, gpuArray("script")) are gathered automatically, so callers never need to move text back to the CPU manually.
• Unsupported second-argument types surface a MATLAB-compatible error listing the accepted keywords.

How RunMat runs exist on the GPU

The builtin runs entirely on the host CPU. If any argument lives on the GPU, RunMat gathers it to host memory before performing the lookup. Providers do not implement dedicated hooks for exist, and the result is always returned as a host-resident double scalar. Documented behaviour is identical regardless of whether acceleration is enabled.

GPU memory and residency

No. exist gathers any GPU-resident string inputs transparently. The lookup, file system checks, and return value are always host-side operations. Keeping text on the GPU offers no performance benefits, so you can pass regular character vectors or string scalars.

Examples

How to check if a workspace variable exists

alpha = 3.14;
status = exist("alpha", "var")

Expected output:

status =
     1

How to determine if a built-in function is available

code = exist("sin")

Expected output:

code =
     5

How to test whether an M-file is on the MATLAB path

status = exist("utilities/process_data", "file")

Expected output:

status =
     2

How to verify a folder exists before creating logs

mkdir("logs");
status = exist("logs", "dir")

Expected output:

status =
     7

How to detect class definitions in packages

status = exist("pkg.Widget", "class")

Expected output:

status =
     8

How to inspect compiled MEX fallbacks

if exist("fastfft", "mex")
    disp("Using compiled fastfft.");
else
    disp("Falling back to MATLAB implementation.");
end

Expected output:

% Prints which implementation will be executed based on the presence of fastfft.mex*.

FAQ

if exist('myVar', 'var')
    disp(myVar);
end

if exist('data.mat', 'file')
    load('data.mat');
end

if ~exist('outdir', 'dir')
    mkdir('outdir');
end

Related Io functions

Open-source implementation

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

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

About RunMat

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• Simulations that took hours now take minutes. RunMat automatically optimizes your math for GPU execution on Apple, Nvidia, and AMD hardware. No code changes needed.
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