User defined function in MATLAB

Functions let you do a specific task. User defined functions are the functions created by the users according to their needs. This article explains how the user defined function in MATLAB is created.

Syntax : function [a1,...,an] = func(x1,...,xm) func is the function name a1,...,an are outputs x1,...,xm are inputs Function name is required, whereas input and output arguments are optional.

For making a user defined function in MATLAB, go to Home -> New -> Function. The function template appears as-

function [outputArg1,outputArg2] = untitled(inputArg1,inputArg2)
    % UNTITLED Summary of this function goes here
    % Detailed explanation goes here
    outputArg1 = inputArg1;
    outputArg2 = inputArg2;
end

Change the function name and save the file with the changes made. Save the file either in the current folder or in a folder on the MATLAB search path. The name of the function and the file should be same. For example, to create a function for calculating factorial, the code is:

function f = fact(n)
    f = 1;
    i = 1;
    while i <= n
        f = f * i;
        i = i + 1;
    end
end

Save it and it can be run from the command window. The value of the fact() function returned, can also be stored in a variable. Code output for different values of n being passed :