MATLAB Programming

MATLAB Path
MATLAB Path
This section covers the following topics:
• “Precedence Rules” on page 12-35
• “File Precedence” on page 12-36
• “Adding a Directory to the Search Path” on page 12-36
• “Handles to Functions Not on the Path” on page 12-36
• “Making Toolbox File Changes Visible to MATLAB” on page 12-37
• “Making Nontoolbox File Changes Visible to MATLAB” on page 12-38
• “Change Notification on Windows” on page 12-38
Precedence Rules
When MATLAB is given a name to interpret, it determines its usage by
checking the name against each of the entities listed below, and in the order
shown:
1 Variable
2 Subfunction
3 Private function
4 Class constructor
5 Overloaded method
6 M-file in the current directory
7 M-file on the path, or MATLAB built-in function
If you have two or more M-files on the path that have the same name,
MATLAB selects the function that has its M-file in the directory closest to the
beginning of the path string.
For more information: See “Function Precedence Order” on page 9-73 in
the MATLAB Programming documentation.
12-35