categories

List of categories in categorical array

Syntax

C = categories(A)

C = categories(A,OutputType=type)

Description

C = categories(A) returns a list of the categories in the categorical array A. The output is a cell array of character vectors.

The output lists all categories in A, including categories that are not present in any element of A. To return a list that includes only the categories that are present in elements of A, use the unique function.

C = categories(A,OutputType=type) specifies the output type. You can return the list of categories as a cell array of character vectors, categorical array, or string array. (since R2024a)

Examples

Return List of Categories

Create a categorical array by using the categorical function.

A = categorical(["plane" "car" "train" "car" "plane"])

A = 1×5 categorical
     plane      car      train      car      plane 

To return a list of the categories in A, use the categories function. The order of the categories was determined when you created A. If you do not specify an order when you use categorical, then categorical calls the unique function to determine the order of the categories from the input array.

C = categories(A)

C = 3×1 cell
    {'car'  }
    {'plane'}
    {'train'}

Return List as Categorical Array

Create a categorical array.

A = categorical(["plane" "car" "train" "car" "plane"])

A = 1×5 categorical
     plane      car      train      car      plane 

To return the list of categories as a categorical array, specify the OutputType name-value argument.

C = categories(A,OutputType="categorical")

C = 3×1 categorical
     car 
     plane 
     train 

Categories in Ordinal Categorical Array

Create an ordinal categorical array. Specify the order of the categories as the mathematical ordering small < medium < large.

A = categorical(["medium";"large";"small";"small";"small";"large"], ...
                ["small" "medium" "large"], ...
                Ordinal=true)

A = 6×1 categorical
     medium 
     large 
     small 
     small 
     small 
     large 

Return a list of the categories in the ordinal categorical array. The categories appear in the order you specified when you created the categorical array.

C = categories(A)

C = 3×1 cell
    {'small' }
    {'medium'}
    {'large' }

Input Arguments

A — Input array

categorical array

Input array, specified as a categorical array.

type — Output data type

"char" (default) | "string" | "categorical"

Output data type, specified as one of these options:

• "char" — Return a cell array of character vectors. If you specify "char", then the output is equivalent to the output of the first syntax.

• "string" — Return a string array.

• "categorical" — Return a categorical array.

Tips

• The order of the categories listed in C is the same order used by functions that you can call on A, such as summary and histogram. To change the order of the categories, use reordercats.

Extended Capabilities

Tall Arrays

Calculate with arrays that have more rows than fit in memory.

The categories function supports tall arrays with the following usage notes and limitations:

• OutputType name-value argument is not supported.

For more information, see Tall Arrays.

C/C++ Code Generation

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

This function fully supports code generation. For more information, see Code Generation for Categorical Arrays (MATLAB Coder).

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™.

Usage notes and limitations:

• OutputType name-value argument is not supported.

For more information, see Run MATLAB Functions with Distributed Arrays (Parallel Computing Toolbox).

Version History

Introduced in R2013b

R2024a: Return list of categories as categorical array or string array

When using the categories function, you can specify the OutputType name-value argument to return the list of categories as a categorical array or string array. By default, the function returns the list of categories as a cell array of character vectors.