User Defined Functions in MATLAB Part-4

Function Function, Local Function, and Private Function

Function Function

A MATLAB function that accepts another function as an input is called a function function. Function handles are used for passing functions to function functions. Syntax for function function is same as simple functions, but one or more input arguments will be function handles.

Local function - Sub Function

Multiple functions within one function file is called local function. Name of function file should be name of main function. Main function can be called from the command window or any other function. Local functions are typed in any order after the main function. Local functions are only visible to other functions in the same file. 

Private Function

A private function is a function residing in a sub directory with the name private. Private functions are visible only to functions in the parent directory. They are useful when we want to limit the scope of a function. You cannot call the private function from the command line or from functions outside the parent of the private folder.

User Defined Functions in MATLAB Part-4 from Shameer Ahmed Koya

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Anonymous and Inline Functions in MATLAB

Anonymous Functions

MATLAB's anonymous functions provide an easy way to specify a function. An anonymous function is a function defined without using a separate function file. It is a MATLAB feature that lets you define a mathematical expression of one or more inputs and either assign that expression to a function. This method is good for relatively simple functions that will not be used that often and that can be written in a single expression.

An anonymous function of any number of variables can be created by giving the @ symbol, followed by a variable list, followed by the MATLAB expression. Anonymous function can be written in Command Window, script file, or inside user-defined function. Anonymous functions can only have one expression and can only return a single variable.

To give the anonymous function a name, simply put the function's name on the left side of an equal sign and the anonymous function on the right. 

                     NAME = @(ARGLIST)EXPRESSION 

• NAME is name of the function. (using rules for names of user-defined functions) 
• @ - a function handle, an object that has information about the function 
• ARGLIST is the input arguments (a comma-separated list). 
• The body of the function, to the right of the parentheses, is a single line MATLAB expression.

Inline Functions

The inline command lets you create a function of any number of variables by giving a string containing the function followed by a series of strings denoting the order of the input variables. This method is good for relatively simple functions that can be written in a single expression. It is similar to an Anonymous Function. Inline functions cannot access variables in the work space, even if those variables are global – this is the main difference with the anonymous functions.

The expression to be evaluated is defined in single quotes, followed in order by the variables of the function also surrounded by single quotes. 

                       Name = inline(‘expression', 'arg1', ‘arg2')

Anonymous and Inline Functions in MATLAB from Shameer Ahmed Koya

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