How to check if a string contains only numbers?

Is there any expression for this ? For example :

              -100   should return 1

               a100b should return 0

              0.1256 should return 1   and so on

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

The easiest way is to check if str2double() returns nan. Otherwise you need to parse the string and there are a number of odd cases to account for in scientific notation.

Note: if you do use str2double() you should give some consideration as to what result you want for complex numbers, whether those are to be treated as numeric or as invalid because of the 'i' or 'j' present.

[YT]

I'm curious myself why is the 'easiest way' str2double()? In this example, why would it be easier than isnumeric()? Besides str2double() returns either the value or NaN, which is not exactly what the OP asked for.

[Walter Roberson]

The question is whether a string contains only numbers; isnumeric checks whether the datatype of the object is numeric, which would be false for strings.

It is completely correct that str2double() returns either the value or NaN, which is why I said the easiest way is to check if str2double() returns nan.

string_contains_numeric = @(S) ~isnan(str2double(S))

This anonymous function works on character vectors, and on cell arrays of character vectors, and on string objects (including string arrays).

[Stephen23]

"why would it be easier than isnumeric()?"

Because isnumeric tests if the type is numeric. The question specifically states the input is string/char.

[YT]

@replies, thanks for clarifying. Somehow I didn't read the title well enough. I'll remove my answer.