MATLAB Programming

MATLAB is a programming language developed by MathWorks. It started out as a matrix programming language where linear algebra programming was simple. It can be run both under interactive sessions and as a batch job. Alternatives to MATLAB exist including open source software packages.

Introduction

For the beginner just starting into MATLAB programming, a tutorial is available to write Hello World. Once Hello World, which is the simplest of programs, works the beginner can move on to explore the MATLAB workspace available for developing or running Matlab code.

Using the workspace the beginner can then learn to manipulate basic MATLAB Variables. For convenience Matlab allows the workspace to be saved and loaded using *.mat files.

Basic MATLAB Concepts

• The MATLAB command prompt
• Reading and writing data files
• Commands
• File Naming conventions

Variable Manipulation

• Numbers and Booleans
• Strings
• Portable Functions
• Complex Numbers
• Operators
• Arrays

Graphics

Graphs and plots

• Plot
• Polar Plot
• Semilogx or Semilogy
• Loglog
• Bode Plot
• Nichols Plot
• Nyquist Plot

Using Handles

What is a handle?

Figure handles

Axis handles

Other types of handles

Annotating Plots

• Inserting Newlines into Plot Labels

Graphical User Interface

• GUI to get a file or directory

M-file Programming

Scripts

• Comments
• The Input Function

Control Flow

• Loops and Branches

Error Messages

• MATLAB Caveats
• Inserting Newlines into Disp Warn and Error

Advanced Topics

Alternatives to MATLAB

Most MATLAB scripts and functions can be run in the open source program Octave. This program is freely available for most computing platforms. Also freely available is Julia language, and while it doesn't strive for full compatibility, see Julia for MATLAB Users.

Differences between Octave and MATLAB

The most important differences between Octave and MATLAB that anyone willing to use Octave instead of MATLAB should be aware of.

References

• MATLAB documentation from The MathWorks.
• MATLAB programs compilation from 'MATLAB programs for Engineering Students'.
• MATLAB Programming Language Origin, Advantages, Implementation from Bobs SEO

External links

• MATLAB at literateprograms.org
• ControlTheoryPro.com MATLAB Category
• Processing in Optical Coherence Tomography using Matlab

Other Wikibooks

A number of other wikibooks use MATLAB to teach their subjects. The following wikibooks make use of MATLAB:

• Signals and Systems
• Control Systems