Creating Function in Files in MATLAB

Last Updated : 26 Apr, 2025

MATLAB is a high-performance language that is used for matrix manipulation, performing technical computations, graph plottings, etc. It stands for Matrix Laboratory.

Functions:

The function is a set of statements or commands, which take input/s as parameters and return output. We write functions to use it again and again in the program i.e. it makes a block of code reusable. It makes it easier to find errors and also reduces code redundancy.

Types of Function:

Library Functions: In MATLAB Software, there are some inbuilt functions, which take input as arguments and return output. E.g. log(x), sqrt(x), line space(a,b,n), etc.
User-Defined Functions: In MATLAB, we also create functions by writing Matlab commands in files that take input/s as argument/s and then return the output. Also, save the function file using the name of the function itself.

Steps to Create a Function File in MATLAB:

Step 1: Create a file and write commands using the function keyword.
Step 2: Save the function file with the same name as the function. Here I have saved the file with the name solve.m.
Step 3: Use the function in Command Video by providing suitable argument/s.

Now we see creating a function and saving it in MATLAB.

Example 1:

Matlab

% function to calculate sin(x)+cos(x) where x is in radians 
% Here solve is the name of the function which 
% will return x and takes an argument a 
function x = solve(a) 
x = sin(a) + cos(a);

Using the function to be called in Command Window.

Example 2:

Matlab

input = 1.5708; 
  
% display the function's output 
disp(solve(input));

Output:

The above screenshot is showing:

Function saved as a file named solve.m
Command Window in which we are calling function for various inputs.

Defining Function Handles in MATLAB

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