MATLAB

MATLAB
Name	MATLAB
Developer	MathWorks
Released	December 1984
Programming language	C, C++, Java
Operating system	Windows, macOS, Linux
Genre	Numerical analysis
License	Proprietary software

MATLAB. MATLAB is a proprietary multi-paradigm programming language and numeric computing environment developed by MathWorks. It allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, implementation of algorithms, creation of user interfaces, and interfacing with programs written in other languages. The environment is widely used in academia and industry for tasks ranging from signal processing and control theory to computational finance and computational biology.

Overview

The core of MATLAB is the MATLAB language, a high-level matrix and array language with control flow statements, functions, data structures, input/output, and object-oriented programming features. The desktop environment invites experimentation, exploration, and discovery through its interactive tools for iterative exploration, design, and problem-solving. MATLAB is deeply integrated with Simulink, a block diagram environment for simulation and Model-Based Design of dynamic systems. Major application areas include engineering, physics, chemistry, and economics, where it is used for data analysis, visualization, and numerical computation. The software is supported by a large community and extensive documentation from MathWorks.

History

MATLAB was invented in the late 1970s by Cleve Moler, then chairman of the computer science department at the University of New Mexico. He designed it to give his students access to LINPACK and EISPACK subroutines without them needing to learn Fortran. The software was rewritten in C and commercially released by MathWorks, co-founded by Moler, Jack Little, and Steve Bangert, in 1984. Early versions were simple matrix calculators, but the language rapidly expanded. Key milestones include the introduction of toolboxes in the 1990s, the integration of Simulink after its acquisition, and the addition of object-oriented features and a redesigned desktop environment in the 2000s. Its development has been closely tied to advances in linear algebra and scientific computing.

Language features

The MATLAB language is array-based, allowing entire matrices to be processed with compact syntax, which is ideal for linear algebra and vector calculus. It supports multiple data types, including numeric arrays, character strings, cell arrays, and structures. Key features include an extensive library of mathematical functions, tools for building graphical user interfaces, and capabilities for two- and three-dimensional data visualization. The language supports object-oriented programming with classes, properties, and methods, and includes functional programming constructs. Debugging and profiling tools are built into the integrated development environment, facilitating rapid code development and testing.

Toolboxes and applications

MATLAB functionality is extended through add-on toolboxes, which are collections of specialized functions for particular applications. The Signal Processing Toolbox provides algorithms for analyzing and processing signals, while the Control System Toolbox is used for designing and analyzing feedback control systems. Other prominent toolboxes include the Image Processing Toolbox for image analysis, the Statistics and Machine Learning Toolbox for data science, and the Simulink platform for modeling and simulation. These toolboxes are applied in diverse fields such as aerospace (for flight control design), automotive engineering (for powertrain modeling), and quantitative finance (for risk assessment).

Interfacing with other languages

MATLAB can call functions and subroutines written in other languages, a feature essential for integrating legacy code or leveraging high-performance libraries. It has a native interface for calling functions written in C and Fortran (MEX-files). Through the Java interface, it can create and manipulate objects from the Java platform. MATLAB also provides integration with Python via its Engine API, allowing data exchange and function calls between the two environments. Furthermore, it can interact with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, SQL databases, and hardware like data acquisition devices and GPUs for accelerated computing.

Licensing and alternatives

MATLAB is commercial proprietary software sold by MathWorks under various license types, including individual, academic, and enterprise licenses. The cost and proprietary nature have spurred the development of free and open-source alternatives. GNU Octave is a high-level language that is largely compatible with its syntax and is often used for teaching. Scilab is another open-source platform for numerical computation, while Python with libraries like NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib has become a major competitor in scientific computing. Other commercial alternatives include Wolfram Mathematica and Maple, which emphasize symbolic mathematics alongside numeric computation.

Category:Numerical programming languages Category:MathWorks software Category:Proprietary software