How to store a number with its leading zeros?

I have to input a 9 digit code into 'x' and then separate the digits so I can evaluate some conditions, the thing is, the code can start with a zero. However if I input 'x=012345678' MatLab will say x=12345678. I tried n=num2str(x) but it will say n='12345678' no leading zero. This is really stressing. Is there a way it doesn't skip the zero? I heard you can input a number into a variable as a string, then it wouldn't skip the zero. But I really don't know how to do that (this my first week learning MatLab)

[David Fletcher]

str = input('Enter value ','s')
Enter value 0043321

str =

    '0043321'

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

To define x as a character vector:

x = '012345678'

See: https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/characters-and-strings.html

Numeric classes do not store leading zeros, or any formatting information.

See: https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/numeric-types.html

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

Try this:

% Define x as a string with leading zeros.
x = '00012345678'
% Get digits separated:
numbers = x - '0'

You will see

x =
    '00012345678'
numbers =
     0     0     0     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8

so your individual digits, including any zeros, are now elements of a numerical vector "numbers" that you can then inspect to "evaluate some conditions".

Answer 3

[James Tursa]

Another way:

x = your numeric number
the_digits = sprintf('%09d',x)-'0';