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Line 7: \| logo = Matlab Logo.png \| logo size = 150px \| logo caption = L-shaped membrane logo<ref>{{cite web\|title=The L-Shaped Membrane\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/company/newsletters/articles/the-l-shaped-membrane.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=February 7, 2014\|year=2003\|archive-date=April 23, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423053626/https://www.mathworks.com/company/newsletters/articles/the-l-shaped-membrane.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> \| screenshot = \| caption = MATLAB R2015b running on Windows 10 Line 17: \| latest preview date = \| programming language = [[C (programming language)\|C]]/[[C++]], MATLAB \| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows\|Windows]], [[macOS]], and [[Linux]]<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/products/availability/index.html#ML\|title=System Requirements and Platform Availability\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=October 13, 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013171819/http://www.mathworks.com/products/availability/index.html#ML\|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|title=Platform Road Map for MATLAB and Simulink Product Families\|url=https://de.mathworks.com/support/requirements/platform-road-map.html\|access-date=2021-12-22\|website=de.mathworks.com\|language=en}}</ref> \| platform = [[IA-32]], [[x86-64]], [[ARM64]] \| genre = [[List of numerical-analysis software\|Numerical computing]] Line 52: \| operating system = \| license = \| file ext = <code>.m</code>, <code>.p</code>,<ref>{{cite web\|title=Protect Your Source Code\|url=https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/protect-your-source-code.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> <code>.mex*</code>,<ref>{{cite web\|title=MEX Platform Compatibility\|url=https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_external/platform-compatibility.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> <code>.mat</code>,<ref>{{cite web\|title=MAT-File Versions\|url=https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/import_export/mat-file-versions.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> <code>.fig</code>,<ref>{{cite web\|title=Save Figure to Reopen in MATLAB Later\|url=https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/creating_plots/save-figure-to-reopen-in-matlab-later.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> <code>.mlx</code>,<ref>{{cite web\|title=Live Code File Format (.mlx)\|url=https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/live-script-file-format.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> <code>.mlapp</code>,<ref>{{cite web\|title=MATLAB App Designer\|url=https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/appdesigner.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> <code>.mltbx</code>,<ref>{{cite web\|title=Toolbox Distribution\|url=https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/creating-help.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> <code>.mlappinstall</code>,<ref>{{cite web\|title=MATLAB App Installer File\|url=https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/creating_guis/what-is-an-app.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=November 1, 2019\|archive-date=January 17, 2014\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117002416/https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/creating_guis/what-is-an-app.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> <code>.mlpkginstall</code><ref>{{cite web\|title=Support Package Installation\|url=https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_external/support-package-installation.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=November 1, 2019\|archive-date=October 6, 2014\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006135910/https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_external/support-package-installation.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> \| website = {{url\|https://www.mathworks.com/products/matlab.html\|mathworks.com}} \| wikibooks = MATLAB Programming }} '''MATLAB''' (an'''Matrix ~~abbreviation of "MATrix LABoratory"~~Laboratory''')<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Matrices and Arrays - MATLAB & Simulink \|url=https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/learn_matlab/matrices-and-arrays.html \|access-date=2022-05-21 \|website=www.mathworks.com}}</ref>) is a [[Proprietary software\|proprietary]] [[multi-paradigm programming language\|multi-paradigm]] [[programming language]] and [[numerical analysis\|numeric computing]] environment developed by [[MathWorks]]. MATLAB allows [[matrix (mathematics)\|matrix]] manipulations, plotting of [[function (mathematics)\|functions]] and data, implementation of [[algorithm]]s, creation of [[user interface]]s, and interfacing with programs written in other languages. Although MATLAB is intended primarily for numeric computing, an optional toolbox uses the [[MuPAD]] [[computer algebra system\|symbolic engine]] allowing access to [[symbolic computing]] abilities. An additional package, [[Simulink]], adds graphical multi-___domain simulation and [[model-based design]] for [[dynamical system\|dynamic]] and [[embedded system]]s. {{As of\|2020}}, MATLAB has more than four million users worldwide.<ref name="mathworksCompanyOverview">{{cite web\|title=Company Overview\|url=https://uk.mathworks.com/content/dam/mathworks/handout/2020-company-factsheet-8-5x11-8282v20.pdf\|author=The MathWorks\|date=February 2020\|access-date=May 11, 2020\|archive-date=July 19, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719211946/https://uk.mathworks.com/content/dam/mathworks/handout/2020-company-factsheet-8-5x11-8282v20.pdf\|url-status=dead}}</ref> They come from various backgrounds of [[engineering]], [[science]], and [[economics]]. {{As of\|2017}}, more than 5000 global colleges and universities use MATLAB to support instruction and research.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Current number of matlab users worldwide \|url=https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/77436-current-number-of-matlab-users-worldwide \|date=2017-11-09 \|access-date=2023-04-26 \|website=Mathworks}}</ref> ==History== Line 344: \|24.2 \|- !R2025a \|25.1 \|25.1 \|2025 \|- \| \|} Line 349 ⟶ 355: The MATLAB application is built around the MATLAB programming language. Common usage of the MATLAB application involves using the "[[Command-line interface\|Command Window]]" as an interactive mathematical [[command line interface\|shell]] or executing [[Text file\|text files]] containing MATLAB code.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/index.html\|title=MATLAB Documentation \|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=June 19, 2024\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619172747/https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/index.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> === "Hello, world!" example === Line 367 ⟶ 373: [[Variable (computer science)\|Variables]] are defined using the [[Assignment (computer science)\|assignment]] operator, <code>=</code>. MATLAB is a [[Strong and weak typing\|weakly typed]] programming language because [[Data type\|types]] are implicitly converted.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Comparing MATLAB with Other OO Languages\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_oop/matlab-vs-other-oo-languages.html\|work=MATLAB\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=October 29, 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194449/http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_oop/matlab-vs-other-oo-languages.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is an [[Type inference\|inferred]] [[Type system\|typed language]] because variables can be assigned without declaring their type, except if they are to be treated as symbolic objects,<ref>{{cite web\|title=Create Symbolic Variables and Expressions\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/symbolic/creating-symbolic-variables-and-expressions.html\|work=Symbolic Math Toolbox\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=July 12, 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130712032649/http://www.mathworks.com/help/symbolic/creating-symbolic-variables-and-expressions.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> and that their type can change. Values can come from [[constant (computer science)\|constant]]s, from computation involving values of other variables, or from the output of a [[Function (computer programming)\|function]]. Line 407 ⟶ 413: assigns to the variable named <code>ari</code> an array with the values 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, since the default value of 1 is used as the increment. [[One-based indexing\|Indexing]] is one-based,<ref>{{cite web\|title=Matrix Indexing\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/math/matrix-indexing.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=August 9, 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809011619/http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/math/matrix-indexing.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> which is the usual convention for [[matrix (mathematics)\|matrices]] in mathematics, unlike zero-based indexing commonly used in other programming languages such as C, [[C++]], and [[Java (programming language)\|Java]]. Matrices can be defined by separating the elements of a row with blank space or comma and using a semicolon to separate the rows. The list of elements should be surrounded by square brackets <code>[]</code>. Parentheses <code>()</code> are used to access elements and subarrays (they are also used to denote a function argument list). Line 481 ⟶ 487: === Structures === MATLAB supports structure data types.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Structures\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/structures.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=July 13, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713130421/https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/structures.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since all variables in MATLAB are arrays, a more adequate name is "structure array", where each element of the array has the same field names. In addition, MATLAB supports dynamic field names<ref>{{cite web\|title=Generate Field Names from Variables\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/generate-field-names-from-variables.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=December 5, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205162532/https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/generate-field-names-from-variables.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> (field look-ups by name, field manipulations, etc.). === Functions === Line 504 ⟶ 510: === Function handles === MATLAB supports elements of [[lambda calculus]] by introducing function handles,<ref>{{cite web\|title=Function Handles\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/function-handles.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=July 19, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719160702/https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/function-handles.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> or function references, which are implemented either in .m files or anonymous<ref>{{cite web\|title=Anonymous Functions\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/anonymous-functions.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013}}{{Dead link\|date=July 2025 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>/nested functions.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Nested Functions\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/nested-functions.html\|publisher=MathWorks.\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=July 19, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719221302/https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/nested-functions.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> === Classes and object-oriented programming === MATLAB supports [[object-oriented programming]] including classes, [[inheritance (object-oriented programming)\|inheritance]], virtual dispatch, packages, [[pass-by-value]] semantics, and [[pass-by-reference]] semantics.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/object-oriented-programming.html \|title=Object-Oriented Programming\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=December 5, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205162541/https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/object-oriented-programming.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the syntax and calling conventions are significantly different from other languages. MATLAB has value classes and reference classes, depending on whether the class has ''handle'' as a super-class (for reference classes) or not (for value classes).<ref>{{cite web\|title=Comparing Handle and Value Classes\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_oop/comparing-handle-and-value-classes.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=December 5, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205162818/https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_oop/comparing-handle-and-value-classes.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> Method call behavior is different between value and reference classes. For example, a call to a method: Line 671 ⟶ 677: \|} MATLAB supports developing [[graphical user interface]] (GUI) applications.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.mathworks.com/discovery/matlab-gui.html \| title=MATLAB GUI \| publisher=MathWorks \| date=April 30, 2011 \| access-date=August 14, 2013 \| archive-date=January 17, 2022 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117115213/https://www.mathworks.com/discovery/matlab-gui.html \| url-status=dead }}</ref> UIs can be generated either programmatically or using visual design environments such as ''GUIDE'' and ''App Designer''.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Create a Simple GUIDE GUI\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/creating_guis/about-the-simple-guide-gui-example.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2014\|archive-date=October 5, 2014\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005205720/http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/creating_guis/about-the-simple-guide-gui-example.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=MATLAB App Designer\|url=https://www.mathworks.com/products/matlab/app-designer.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> == MATLAB and other languages == MATLAB can call functions and subroutines written in the programming languages [[C (programming language)\|C]] or [[Fortran]].<ref>{{cite web\|title=Application Programming Interfaces to MATLAB\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/programming-interfaces-for-c-c-fortran-com.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=September 15, 2017\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915020649/http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/programming-interfaces-for-c-c-fortran-com.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> A wrapper function is created allowing MATLAB data types to be passed and returned. [[MEX file]]s (MATLAB executables) are the dynamically loadable object files created by compiling such functions.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Create MEX-Files\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/create-mex-files.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=March 3, 2014\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303193228/http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/create-mex-files.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=Connecting C and Matlab \| last=Spielman \| first=Dan \| publisher=Yale University, Computer Science Department \| date=February 10, 2004 \| url=http://www.cs.yale.edu/homes/spielman/ECC/cMatlab.html \| access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref> Since 2014 increasing two-way interfacing with [[Python (programming language)\|Python]] was being added.<ref>{{cite web\|title=MATLAB Engine for Python\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab-engine-for-python.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=June 13, 2015}}{{Dead link\|date=July 2025 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=Call Python Libraries\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/call-python-libraries.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=June 13, 2015\|archive-date=December 5, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205162912/https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/call-python-libraries.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> Libraries written in [[Perl]], [[Java (programming language)\|Java]], [[ActiveX]] or [[.NET Framework\|.NET]] can be directly called from MATLAB,<ref>{{cite web\|title=External Programming Language Interfaces\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/external-interfaces.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|archive-date=March 11, 2014\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311003229/http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/external-interfaces.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=Call Perl script using appropriate operating system executable\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/perl.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=November 7, 2013\|archive-date=December 5, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205162718/https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/perl.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> and many MATLAB libraries (for example [[XML]] or [[SQL]] support) are implemented as wrappers around Java or ActiveX libraries. Calling MATLAB from Java is more complicated, but can be done with a MATLAB toolbox<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.mathworks.com/products/javabuilder/ \|title=MATLAB Builder JA \|publisher=MathWorks \|access-date=June 7, 2010 \|archive-date=June 4, 2011 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604183233/http://www.mathworks.com/products/javabuilder/ \|url-status=dead }}</ref> which is sold separately by [[MathWorks]], or using an undocumented mechanism called JMI (Java-to-MATLAB Interface),<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://undocumentedmatlab.com/blog/jmi-java-to-matlab-interface/ \|first=Yair \|last=Altman \|title=Java-to-Matlab Interface \|publisher=Undocumented Matlab \|date=April 14, 2010 \|access-date=June 7, 2010 \|archive-date=September 5, 2015 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905153327/http://undocumentedmatlab.com/blog/jmi-java-to-matlab-interface \|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=matlabcontrol JMI\|url=https://code.google.com/p/matlabcontrol/wiki/JMI\|first=Joshua \|last=Kaplan}}</ref> (which should not be confused with the unrelated [[Java Metadata Interface]] that is also called JMI). Official MATLAB API for Java was added in 2016.<ref name="MATLAB Engine API for Java">{{cite web\|title=MATLAB Engine API for Java\|url=http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab-engine-api-for-java.html\|publisher=MathWorks\|access-date=September 15, 2016\|archive-date=September 19, 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919194505/https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab-engine-api-for-java.html\|url-status=dead}}</ref> As alternatives to the [[MuPAD]] based Symbolic Math Toolbox available from MathWorks, MATLAB can be connected to [[Maple (software)\|Maple]] or [[Mathematica]].<ref>{{cite web\|title=MaMa: Calling MATLAB from Mathematica with MathLink\|url=http://library.wolfram.com/infocenter/MathSource/618/\|publisher=Wolfram Library Archive\|first=Roger \|last=Germundsson \|work=[[Wolfram Research]] \|date=September 30, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=MATLink: Communicate with MATLAB from Mathematica\|url=http://matlink.org/\|access-date=August 14, 2013\|author1=rsmenon \|author2=szhorvat\|year=2013}}</ref> Line 758 ⟶ 764: [[Category:Plotting software]] [[Category:Proprietary commercial software for Linux]] ~~[[Category:Proprietary cross-platform software]]~~ [[Category:Regression and curve fitting software]] [[Category:Software modeling language]]