How to check if a directory(folder) exists?

I am trying to create folders using mkdir, but if I have already created that folder, how do I check that before creating it. a = mkdir(directorylocation,text1) returns 1 in variable a if the directorylocation\text1 is created and if the directory exists. What is the function or condition that checks whether directorylocation\text1 exists

Answer 1

[drummer]

well, I suppose you want to create if it doesn't exist, after checking... so you could do it like that:

    if ~exist(yourFolder, 'dir')
       mkdir(yourFolder)
    end

It basically check if youFolder does not exist. If that's true, it creates youFolder.

Cheers.

[Clancy Tan]

thank you for your answer.

[Aritra Roy Gosthipaty]

This has helped a ton!!

Answer 2

[Cosmo]

If you're using MATLAB R2017b or later, it's better to use isfolder rather than exist like so:

if not(isfolder(yourFolder))
    mkdir(yourFolder)
end

[tjueterb]

In case anyone else was wondering why this solution is better:

To check the existence of a file or folder, you also can use the isfolder or isfile functions. exist searches for files and folders on the search path, which can lead to unexpected results. isfolder and isfile search for files or folders only on the specified path or in the current folder, which can lead to clearer and faster results.

(copied from the exist documentation page)

[linhtuptit]

This has helped me a lot.

Answer 3

[Stephen23]

Use exist like this:

7==exist(name,'dir') % check if folder exists

or

7~=exist(name,'dir') % check if folder does NOT exist

To avoid searching the entire MATLAB Search Path use an absolute file/folder name:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_env/specify-file-names.html