Can a MATLAB function edit the input?

In Python, I could define, say, a linked list via the class 'node' with attribute 'next', then define a recursive function

def addtoend(root, newnode): 
    if root.next == None: 
        root.next = newnode
    else: addtoend(root.next,newnode) 

I can't figure out how do implement this in MATLAB - I can define the class 'node' but MATLAB doesn't seem to allow functions to modify the input and keep it in the workspace. Is there any way around this?

Answer 1

[Steve Eddins]

You'll need your class to subclass handle. See the documentation page "Implementing Linked Lists with Classes" for details.

[Lorcan O'Connor]

Thanks - in this respect isn't MATLAB much more awkward than other oop languages?

[Steve Eddins]

There are many benefits to the normal MATLAB function-calling behavior in which functions do not modify their inputs. I'll leave it up to you to assess the balance of pros and cons for your own work. :-)