MATLAB: Short-circuit logic and dynamic structure referencing: Why does this not work

dynamic structure referenceMATLABsort-circuit logic

This behavior seems rather inconsistent, especially since by my understanding of short-circuit logic the A.(x) bit should not be evaluated if isfield(A,x) is false. Can someone help me understand this behavior? Thank you!
>> A = struct('apple',1, 'orange',1);
>> x = 'apple';
>> isfield(A,x) && A.(x)
ans =
       1
>> x = 'banana';
>> isfield(A,x) && A.(x)
ans =
       0
>> isfield(A,x) & A.(x)
Reference to non-existent field 'banana'.
>> for x = {'apple','banana'}
..    isfield(A,x) && A.(x)
.. end
Argument to dynamic structure reference must evaluate to a valid field name.

Best Answer

Nothing to do with short circuit logic.
for x = {'apple','banana'}
does not assign x = 'apple' and then x = 'banana': instead it assigns x = {'apple'} and then x = {'banana'}
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