---
name: "Mat_VarRead"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libmatio"
version: "1.5.30-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Mat_VarRead"
---

# Mat\_VarRead(3)

Reads the information and data for a specific variable in a MATLAB MAT file.

## NAME

**Mat\_VarRead** – Reads the information and data for a specific variable in a MATLAB MAT file.

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<matio.h\>**

*matvar\_t* *\**\

**Mat\_VarRead**(*mat\_t \*matfp*, *const char \*name*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **Mat\_VarRead**() function reads the information and data for the variable *name* in the open MAT file.

## RETURN VALUES

If the variable was found in the MAT file and successfully read, a pointer to the MATLAB variable structure is returned. If the variable was not found, or there was an error reading the variable, NULL is returned.

## EXAMPLES

This example program opens a MAT file named by the first argument to the program, and reads a variable named *x* from the file. The matio function Mat\_VarPrint is used to print the information and data from the file.

```
#include "matio.h"
int
main(int argc, char **argv)
{
    mat_t    *matfp;
    matvar_t *matvar;
    matfp = Mat_Open(argv[1], MAT_ACC_RDONLY);
    if ( NULL == matfp ) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Error opening MAT file %s0, argv[1]);
        return EXIT_FAILURE;
    }
    matvar = Mat_VarRead(matfp, "x");
    if ( NULL != matvar ) {
        Mat_VarPrint(matvar);
        Mat_VarFree(matvar);
    }
    Mat_Close(matfp);
    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
```

## SEE ALSO

[Mat\_VarReadInfo(3)](/Mat_VarReadInfo/3.md), [Mat\_VarReadNext(3)](/Mat_VarReadNext/3.md), [Mat\_VarPrint(3)](/Mat_VarPrint/3.md)