Question about functions in MATLAB

What is the difference between this code

function result = square(n) 
      result = n*n;
end

and this code

number = 4;
numberSquared= square(number); 
disp(numberSquared);

Like I'm confused about the first code specifically. Are both the codes doing the same thing or is there a difference?

Answer 1

[Varun Garg]

Hi Girish

As it has already been mentioned that the first code is function and the other one is a script.

I suppose you get the point but are wondering about the basic difference between them. To make things clearer, suppose we have a variable x in our work space say

x=10 (typing this in the console).

Suppose your function is in the file sq1.m. Code is as follows :

function sq1(x)
   disp(x*x);
end

If you want to access it from command line, you have to type

sq1(x)

because functions have their own local space so you need to explicitly pass argument.

On the other hand, consider your script file sq2.m with same workspace. Code is as follows:

disp(x*x);

If you want to access it from command line, you just need to type

sq2

So in simple words:

Each statement in a script is equivalent to typing them out at the command window of MATLAB. You're just storing them before-hand in a file!

A function, on the other hand, takes in arguments and is a "new" workspace, separate from the main workspace.

[Girish Kolli]

Got it! Thank you so much!

Answer 2

[shaik faraz]

upper one is a function

lower one is a script

script only gets you result if u run that particular script

but function can be called from other scripts