How can I use the NULL file in MATLAB?

I would like to use the NULL file from MATLAB to suppress output to the screen. In earlier releases of MATLAB I would use the file identifier of 0 for this purpose.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

Prior to MATLAB R2013b, the syntax for opening a NULL file on Windows is:

null = fopen('NUL:')

On UNIX/Linux the NULL file is opened by using:

null = fopen('/dev/null')

To open a NULL file using MATLAB R2013b on Windows, the syntax is:

null  =  fopen('NUL ')

Please note that there is now a space between the "L" and the terminating apostrophe.

The returned file identifier can be used in FPRINTF or FWRITE.

Starting with R2017b it is not possible to open a NULL file with MATLAB on Windows anymore.

[Rena Berman]

(Answers dev) The article has been updated.