Store data into new variable in for loop

Suppose I have a for loop function, I want to store the result into a new variable once the loop iterates. How can I implement that?

n = user input
for i = 1:n
    result = 10 - i;
    Datai = result;
end

The output would look like this

 n=5
 Data1 = 9
 Data2 = 8
 Data3 = 7
 Data4 = 6
 Data5 = 5

[Kim Lopez]

I apologize for my noob question. I'm new to matlab and on stage of learning. :)

[KL]

It's not bad. Just make a note of what dpb has said and read best practices on this forum, read the documentation. Have fun with matlab.

[Stephen23]

" I want to store the result into a new variable once the loop iterates"

While it is possible to magically create variables, doing so makes code complex, slow, buggy, and hard to debug. Read this to know more:

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

Much better is to simply use indexing: indexing is much simpler, very fast, and very efficient.

[dpb]

Good catch on the multi-variable part; I completely glossed over the output list OP posted not reading it carefully enough to note it wasn't actually the output of the code but wished-for...his would have produced 'Datai = n' as list each iteration.

Which raises question of where in the documentation should the examples be that would make this beginner faux pas less prevalent an occurrence? It clearly isn't highly-enough visible given the frequency that doesn't appear to decline much.

Was also struck by the similarity to <how-to-store-values-in-an-array-from-a-loop> of just a few days ago which is another theme; are there not sufficient for loop examples and indexing expressions?

Answer 1

[KL]

It's not a good idea to create such dynamic variables inside loop. How about this?

 Data = zeros(1,n);
 for k = 1:n
    Data(1,k) = 10-k;
 end

so when n=5

 Data = [9 8 7 6 5]

[dpb]

"It's not a good idea to create such dynamic variables inside loop."

Which you then proceed to do precisely that... :)

[KL]

I should have preallocated, yes. Thanks for pointing it out dpb. Edited my answer now.

[dpb]

No problem; just the end result became a case of "Do what I say, not what I do!" caught my attention as kinda' a chuckle...

I am (and was) sure it was just oversight; hence the grins...

Answer 2

[dpb]

For Matlab, you wouldn't need a loop at all...

N=5;
data = 10-[1:N];

as a constant can be added onto a vector automagically.

If there's something else going on in the loop that really must use the loop, then you want to first "preallocate" the storage for the result and then populate the array...

data=zeros(N,1);             % preallocate array/vector of Nx1 elements
for i = 1:N
  Data(i) = 10-i;
end

Purists will note that i is builtin function in Matlab and defined as the imaginary i of complex variables and so that it is not "best practice" to use it as an iteration variable. But, the general practice is so ubiquitous that it is still quite common; just be aware of the possible ramifications in some other contexts.

[ROCKTIM JYOTI DAS]

But the data I want to store itself is a matrix?

[dpb]

Use cell arrays would be general answer.

But, an example of what you're trying to do would confirm/deny that.

BTW, better to ask new Q? than diverge too far from original subject on a previous...

But, see if an earlier Answer today will help <Answers/545081 Results-in-a-for-loop-where-the-number-of-peaks-are-not-the-same-for-every-vector>. I took liberty of modifying the title a little to address the fundamental Q? raised here irrespective of how the other poster got the result...which is appropriate here as well as we're not given that information.