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:

x = 1

MATLAB adds variable a to the workspace and displays the result in the Command Window.

x = 

     1

Create a few more variables.

y = 2

y = 

     2

z = x + y

z = 

     3

d = cos(x)

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(x)

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 = x*y;

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.