For Loop with strings

I am dealing with n vectors which represent the values of a variable along time. Each of them is characterized by a code which can be both numerical and text. For example Y_23 and Y_FIRE. I have to make some computations for each of them, for instance: beta_23 = Y_23^2. I was thinking about indexing the variables or making a for loop with string vectors. Anybody may help me please? Thanks in advance.

[Stephen23]

"I was thinking about indexing the variables"

That is a good idea. You should do that.

"or making a for loop with string vectors"

That is most likely a bad idea, because accessing variables from strings is slow, buggy, hard to debug, hard to read... and is strongly discouraged:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/304528-tutorial-why-variables-should-not-be-named-dynamically-eval

Although indexing is likely the best option, another option would be for you to put all of your data into a structure, then you can simply access and pass any of those values by using the fieldnames.

[Edoardo Briganti]

Thanks for your help Stephen. I will follow your advice.

Have a nice day.

Answer 1

[Pratik Anand]

Adding Stephen Cobeldick 's suggestion here so that it is visible as an answer rather than a comment.

"I was thinking about indexing the variables"

That is a good idea. You should do that.

"or making a for loop with string vectors"

That is most likely a bad idea, because accessing variables from strings is slow, buggy, hard to debug, hard to read... and is strongly discouraged:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/304528-tutorial-why-variables-should-not-be-named-dynamically-eval

Although indexing is likely the best option, another option would be for you to put all of your data into a structure, then you can simply access and pass any of those values by using the fieldnames.