How to write string to all elements of cell array?

I have an cell array of many rows and 1 column. I want to write the variable in all of those elements.
I can't find the command to write in all elements. I can only write in one of those elements, like so:
name = 'Marley'
size = 8
name_list = cell(size,1)
name_list{size} = name
name_list =
8×1 cell array
{0×0 double} % I want them all to be the 'name' variable
{0×0 double}
{0×0 double}
{0×0 double}
{0×0 double}
{0×0 double}
{0×0 double}
{'Marley' }

1 Comment

I can do this with a loop, but there's probably a better way.
for k = 1:size
name_list{k} = name;
end

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 Accepted Answer

What's wrong with that? It's fast. It's simple. It's intuitive and easy to understand, and thus maintainable by anyone who inherits your code. Looks fine to me.
However, you could do this:
name_list = cell(8, 1);
name_list(:) = {'abcdef'}
name_list = 8×1 cell array
{'abcdef'} {'abcdef'} {'abcdef'} {'abcdef'} {'abcdef'} {'abcdef'} {'abcdef'} {'abcdef'}
Don't use size as the name of your variable since it's the name of a very important built-in function.

2 Comments

Nothing wrong, I just spend a lot of time looking for this notation.
The specific combination of parenthesis and brackets in each case is very confusing. Is there some documentation about this?
Thanks!
@LoroEE I think reading the FAQ should give you a pretty good intuitive feel for when to use braces, brackets, or parentheses.

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