improve this function in terms of speed

In my simulation this function is called many time and I would improve in terms of speed this function so I can earn in execution time this is the function

function [ruffled_head] = ruffle_head(head_rcv)

while 1
    ruffled_head = head_rcv(randi(length(head_rcv));

      if ruffled_head ~= 0
          break;
      end
  end

end

this function receives a vector that is made of integer values and also zeros. it should return an integer value different from zero. I think that this function could be better.Any idea how to improve?

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

why while 1?

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

t = head_rcv(head_rcv ~= 0);
ruffled_head = t(randi(length(t)));

[Walter Roberson]

Note that this will not necessarily be faster than what you had. It depends on the length of the vector, and the occupation percentage. For a large matrix which is well populated, this version will be slower than what you have.

Answer 2

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

function [ruffled_head] = ruffle_head(head_rcv)  
rufled_head=0;
while rufled_head==0
  ruffled_head = head_rcv(randi(length(head_rcv)));
end