MATLAB: Fastest way to cycle through a structure for a number

findstructures

given: a structure and a double
return: the index of a structure that has that number
data:
structure(1).val = 50
structure(2).val = 47
structure(3).val = 22
given: structure, 50
return: 1
given: structure, 22
return: 3
% my attempt
function y = return_struct_index(structure,inputval)
for i = 1:length(structure)
    if structure(i).val==inputval
        y = i;
        return
    end
end
y = [];
This is rather slow and comes in at about 2.5 seconds for 1000 iterations for my code. I know for a fact there is a faster way to do this but haven't been able to track it down. Obviously I haven't vectored my function. I have also tried converting the structure to a cell array and then vectoring the solution, but the conversion makes it even slower.
Help greatly appreciated!!
Will

Best Answer

result = find([structure.val]==value);
E.g.,
>> structure(1).val = 50;
>> structure(2).val = 47;
>> structure(3).val = 22;
>> find([structure.val]==50)
ans =
     1
>> find([structure.val]==47)
ans =
     2
>> find([structure.val]==22)
ans =
     3
>> find([structure.val]==99)
ans =
   Empty matrix: 1-by-0
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