MATLAB supports the entire data analysis process, from acquiring data from external devices and databases, through preprocessing, visualization, and numerical analysis, to producing presentation-quality output.

Data Analysis

MATLAB provides interactive tools and command-line functions for data analysis operations, including:

Interpolating and decimating
Extracting sections of data, scaling, and averaging
Thresholding and smoothing
Correlation, Fourier analysis, and filtering
1-D peak, valley, and zero finding
Basic statistics and curve fitting
Matrix analysis

Plot showing curve fitted to the monthly averaged atmospheric pressure differences between Easter Island and Darwin, Australia.

Data Access

MATLAB is an efficient platform for accessing data from files, other applications, databases, and external devices. You can read data from popular file formats, such as Microsoft Excel; ASCII text or binary files; image, sound, and video files; and scientific files, such as HDF and HDF5. Low-level binary file I/O functions let you work with data files in any format. Additional functions let you read data from Web pages and XML.

Analyzing Data Overview 4:44
Analyze, visualize, and explore data with MATLAB.

You can call other applications and languages, such as C, C++, COM objects, DLLs, Java, Fortran, and Microsoft Excel, and access FTP sites and Web services. Using Database Toolbox™, you can also access data from ODBC/JDBC-compliant databases.

Importing Data from Files 6:13
Import data from spreadsheets, text files, and other formats into MATLAB.

You can acquire data from hardware devices, such as your computer's serial port or sound card. Using Data Acquisition Toolbox™ , you can stream live, measured data directly into MATLAB for analysis and visualization. Instrument Control Toolbox™ enables communication with GPIB and VXI hardware.