Desktop Basics
When you start MATLAB®, the desktop appears in its default layout.
The desktop includes these panels:
-
Current Folder — Access your files.
-
Command Window — Enter commands at the command line, indicated by the prompt (
>>). -
Workspace — Explore data that you create or import from files.
As you work in MATLAB, you issue commands that create variables and call functions. For example, create a variable named a by typing this statement at the command line:
a = 1
MATLAB adds variable a to the workspace and displays the result in the Command Window.
a =
1
Create a few more variables.
b = 2
b =
2
c = a + b
c =
3
d = cos(a)
d =
0.5403
When you do not specify an output variable, MATLAB uses the variable ans, short for answer, to store the results of your calculation.
sin(a)
ans =
0.8415
If you end a statement with a semicolon, MATLAB performs the computation, but suppresses the display of output in the Command Window.
e = a*b;
You can recall previous commands by pressing the up- and down-arrow keys, ↑ and ↓. Press the arrow keys either at an empty command line or after you type the first few characters of a command. For example, to recall the command b = 2, type b, and then press the up-arrow key.