eval

Execute MATLAB expression in text

Syntax

eval(expression)
[output1,...,outputN] = eval(expression)


Description

eval(expression) evaluates the MATLAB^® code represented by expression. If you use eval within an anonymous function, nested function, or function that contains a nested function, the evaluated expression cannot create a variable.

[output1,...,outputN] = eval(expression) stores output from expression in the specified variables.

Input Arguments

expression

Character vector or string scalar that contains a valid MATLAB expression. To include a numeric value in the expression, convert it to a character vector or string scalar.

Output Arguments

output1,...,outputN

Outputs from the evaluated expression.

Examples

Variable Name Evaluation

Select a matrix to plot at runtime.

This example requires that you have a matrix in the current workspace. For example:

aMatrix = magic(5);

Interactively request the name of a matrix to plot, and call eval to use its value.

expression = input('Enter the name of a matrix: ','s');
if (exist(expression,'var'))
    mesh(eval(expression))
end

If you type aMatrix at the input prompt, this code creates a mesh plot of magic(5).

Tips

• Many common uses of the eval function are less efficient and are more difficult to read and debug than other MATLAB functions and language constructs. For more information, see Alternatives to the eval Function.

• Whenever possible, do not include output arguments within the input to the eval function, such as eval(['output = ',expression]). The preferred syntax,

    output = eval(expression)

  allows the MATLAB parser to perform stricter checks on your code, preventing untrapped errors and other unexpected behavior.