File path handling in MATLAB - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What is the output of this MATLAB code using fullfile?

Consider the following MATLAB code that constructs a file path. What will be the output printed?

MATLAB

folder = 'data';
file = 'results.txt';
filepath = fullfile(folder, file);
disp(filepath);

A 'data/results.txt\'

B 'data\\results.txt'

C 'data\results.txt'

D 'data/results.txt'

💡 Hint

fullfile joins parts of a path using the correct file separator for your system.

The fullfile function joins folder and file using the system's file separator. On Windows, it uses '\' so the output is 'data\results.txt'.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

What does fileparts return for this path?

Given the MATLAB code below, what are the outputs of [folder, name, ext]?

MATLAB

[folder, name, ext] = fileparts('C:\Users\user\Documents\report.pdf');
fprintf('%s|%s|%s', folder, name, ext);

A 'C:/Users/user/Documents|report|pdf'

B 'C:\Users\user\Documents|report|.pdf'

C 'C:\Users\user\Documents\report|pdf|'

D 'C:\Users\user\Documents|report.pdf|'

💡 Hint

fileparts splits the path into folder, filename without extension, and extension.

fileparts returns the folder path, the file name without extension, and the extension including the dot. So folder is 'C:\Users\user\Documents', name is 'report', ext is '.pdf'.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this code fail to create a valid path?

This MATLAB code tries to create a file path but produces an error. What is the cause?

MATLAB

folder = 'C:\Data';
file = 'output.txt';
filepath = [folder '\' file];
disp(filepath);

A The backslash is not escaped properly, causing an invalid path string.

B The concatenation operator [] cannot be used for strings in MATLAB.

C The disp function cannot display file paths with backslashes.

D The variable 'file' is a reserved keyword and cannot be used.

💡 Hint

Check how backslashes are used in strings in MATLAB.

In MATLAB, backslash is an escape character. To include a literal backslash, you must use two backslashes \\. The code uses a single backslash '\' which is invalid.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

What is the output of this code using filesep?

What will this MATLAB code display?

MATLAB

folder = 'myfolder';
file = 'data.csv';
filepath = [folder filesep file];
disp(filepath);

A 'myfolder\data.csv'

B 'myfolder\\data.csv'

C 'myfolder/data.csv'

D 'myfolderdata.csv'

💡 Hint

filesep returns the system-specific file separator character.

filesep returns '\' on Windows and '/' on Unix. On Windows, the output is 'myfolder\data.csv'.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

How many parts does fileparts return for a UNC path?

In MATLAB, when using fileparts on a UNC path like \\server\share\folder\file.txt, how many output parts does fileparts return?

A One part: the full path as a single string

B Four parts: server, share, folder, and file

C Two parts: path and filename

D Three parts: folder, name, and extension

💡 Hint

fileparts always returns three outputs regardless of path type.

fileparts returns three outputs: folder path, file name without extension, and extension. UNC paths are treated like normal paths.