How can i merge 2 cells with different items

I need to merge 2 cells with different items like:

str1.item_a = 5;
str1.item_b = 4;
str1.item_c = zeros(1,5);

str2.item_d = 0.5;
str2.item_e = 41;

Result:

str3.item_a = 5;
str3.item_b = 4;
str3.item_c = zeros(1,5);
str3.item_d = 0.5;
str3.item_e = 41;

Thanks

Answer 1

[Jeff Miller]

function str3 = mergefields(str1,str2)
% Note: Returns the value in str2 for any field that is common
% to both str1 & str2.
str3 = str1;
fields2 = fieldnames(str2);
for i=1:numel(fields2)
    str3.(fields2{i}) = str2.(fields2{i})
end
end

[Riccardo Micci]

Brilliant thanks!

Answer 2

[the cyclist]

I would solve this by trying to use different MATLAB data types more effectively:

str(1).item = {5,4,zeros(1,5)};
str(2).item = {0.5,41};

str(3).item = [str(1).item str(2).item];

Note that the field item is a cell array.

[Riccardo Micci]

Unfortunately i can't do that since the 2 input structures are beyond my control