CONTIGUOUS -- Start and stop indices for contiguous runs

RUNS = CONTIGUOUS(A,NUM) returns the start and stop indices for contiguous runs of the elements NUM

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RUNS = CONTIGUOUS(A,NUM) returns the start and stop indices for contiguous runs of the elements NUM within vector A. A and NUM can be vectors of integers or characters. Output RUNS is a 2-column cell array where the ith row of the first column contains the ith value from vector NUM and the ith row of the second column contains a matrix of start and stop indices for runs of the ith value from vector NUM. These matrices have the following form:

[startRun1 stopRun1]
[startRun2 stopRun2]
[ ... ... ]
[startRunN stopRunN]

Example: Find the runs of '0' and '2' in vector A, where A = [0 0 0 1 1 2 2 2 0 2 2 1 0 0];

runs = contiguous(A,[0 2])
runs =
[0] [3x2 double]
[2] [2x2 double]

The start/stop indices for the runs of '0' are given by runs{1,2}:

1 3
9 9
13 14

RUNS = CONTIGUOUS(A) with only one input returns the start and stop indices for runs of all unique elements contained in A.

CONTIGUOUS is intended for use with vectors of integers or characters, and is probably not appropriate for floating point values. You decide.

Cite As

David Fass (2026). CONTIGUOUS -- Start and stop indices for contiguous runs (https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/5658-contiguous-start-and-stop-indices-for-contiguous-runs), MATLAB Central File Exchange. Retrieved .

General Information

MATLAB Release Compatibility

  • Compatible with any release

Platform Compatibility

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
Version Published Release Notes Action
1.0.0.0

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