`save`

Saves workspace variables to a MAT-file or a text file.

Category: Data Import and Analysis > Data Import and Export

Syntax

save(filename)

Saves every workspace variable.

save(filename, var1, var2)

Saves only the named variables.

save(filename, ..., '-append')

Adds variables to an existing MAT-file, replacing those with the same name.

save(filename, var, '-ascii')

Writes numeric data as plain text.

Description

A MAT-file stores variables with their class, size and values, so they come back unchanged with load. Text output with '-ascii' is readable by other programs but loses class information and writes numbers in an exponent format.

In function-call form the variable names must be quoted: save('f.mat', 'x'). In command form, save f.mat x, quotes are omitted.

Input arguments

filename: File name. .mat is added when there is no extension.
var1, ...: Names of the variables to save, given as text.
'-append': Keeps the variables already in the file.
'-ascii': Text output; only numeric variables are allowed.

Example

Save, append and reload

a = 1; b = [1 2; 3 4]; s = 'text';
save('m1.mat', 'a', 's');
save('m1.mat', 'b', '-append');
q = load('m1.mat')

Output

q = struct with fields:

    a: 1
    b: [2×2 double]
    s: 'text'

save