numunique - Number of unique values - MATLAB (original) (raw)
Number of unique values
Since R2025a
Syntax
Description
`n` = numunique([A](#mw%5F2e769f1e-d933-43c2-8031-3ffc9bb11310))
returns the number of unique values in A
. If A
is a table,numunique
behaves as if you callednumunique(A,"rows")
.
n = numunique([A](#mw%5F2e769f1e-d933-43c2-8031-3ffc9bb11310),"rows")
treats each row ofA
as a single entity and returns the number of unique rows inA
.
The "rows"
option does not support cell arrays.
Examples
Create a vector with repeated values. Then, determine the number of unique values in the vector.
A = [9; 2; 9; 9; 5; 2]; n = numunique(A)
Define a vector containing missing values. Then, determine the number of unique values in the vector. numunique
treats each instance of a missing value as a distinct value.
A = [5; 8; NaN; NaN]; n = numunique(A)
Create a string array, where one of the strings has trailing white space. Then, determine the number of unique values in the array. numunique
treats the string with trailing white space as a distinct string.
A = ["dog" "cat" "horse" "dog "]; n = numunique(A)
Create a matrix with some repeated values. Then, determine the number of unique values in the matrix.
A = [1 2; 3 4; 1 2; 1 2; 3 4]
A = 5×2
1 2
3 4
1 2
1 2
3 4
Determine the number of unique rows in the matrix.
nRow = numunique(A,"rows")
Create a table with some repeated rows.
A = [38; 43; 38; 40]; B = logical([1; 0; 1; 1]); T = table(A,B,RowNames=["Smith" "Johnson" "Williams" "Jones"])
T=4×2 table
A B
__ _____
Smith 38 true
Johnson 43 false
Williams 38 true
Jones 40 true
Determine the number of unique rows in the table. For tabular data, numunique
always behaves as if you specify the "rows"
option, and it ignores row names.
Input Arguments
Input data, specified as an array, table, or timetable.
- If
A
is a table, thennumunique
does not take row names into account. Two rows that have the same values but different names are considered equal. - If
A
is a timetable, thennumunique
takes row times into account. Two rows that have the same values but different times are not considered equal. - If
A
is a categorical array, then the sort order is determined by the order of the categories. To see the sort order of a categorical array, use the categories function.
A
can also be an object with the class methodunique
or these class methods:
sort
(orsortrows
, if you specify the"rows"
option)ne
(not equal)
The methods must not have conflicting behaviors or outcomes.sort
or sortrows
must use a stable sorting algorithm. For example, you can specify A
as a heterogeneous array derived from a common root class, such as an array of graphics objects.
numunique
treats missing values and strings with trailing white space as unique values.
Tips
- To determine the number of times each unique value appears in the input data, use thegroupcounts function.
Version History
Introduced in R2025a