Programming

Working with M-Files

MATLAB provides a full programming language that enables you to write a series of MATLAB statements into a file and then execute them with a single command. You write your program in an ordinary text file, giving the file a name of filename.m. The term you use for filename becomes the new command that MATLAB associates with the program. The file extension of .m makes this a MATLAB M-file.

This section covers

• Types of M-Files
• Basic Parts of an M-File
• Creating a Simple M-File
• Providing Help for Your Program
• Creating P-Code Files

Types of M-Files

M-files can be scripts that simply execute a series of MATLAB statements, or they can be functions that also accept input arguments and produce output.

MATLAB scripts:

• Are useful for automating a series of steps you need to perform many times.
• Do not accept input arguments or return output arguments.
• Store variables in a workspace that is shared with other scripts and with the MATLAB command line interface.

MATLAB functions:

• Are useful for extending the MATLAB language for your application.
• Can accept input arguments and return output arguments.
• Store variables in a workspace internal to the function.

Checking It In

Basic Parts of an M-File

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