If you issue this statement at the command line, MATLAB can access the current workspace and path
to determine whether ls and d are functions or variables. However, some components, such as the
Code Analyzer and the Editor/Debugger, operate without reference to the path or workspace. When
you are using those components, MATLAB uses syntactic rules to determine whether an expression is
a function call using command syntax.
In general, when MATLAB recognizes an identifier (which might name a function or a variable), it
analyzes the characters that follow the identifier to determine the type of expression, as follows:
• An equal sign (=) implies assignment. For example:
ls =d
• An open parenthesis after an identifier implies a function call. For example:
ls('./d')
• Space after an identifier, but not after a potential operator, implies a function call using command
syntax. For example:
ls ./d
• Spaces on both sides of a potential operator, or no spaces on either side of the operator, imply an
operation on variables. For example, these statements are equivalent:
ls ./ d
ls./d
Therefore, MATLAB treats the potentially ambiguous statement ls ./d as a call to the ls function
using command syntax.
The best practice is to avoid defining variable names that conflict with common functions, to prevent
any ambiguity.
See Also
“Calling Functions” | “Create Functions in Files” on page 20-2
Choose Command Syntax or Function Syntax
1-9
to determine whether ls and d are functions or variables. However, some components, such as the
Code Analyzer and the Editor/Debugger, operate without reference to the path or workspace. When
you are using those components, MATLAB uses syntactic rules to determine whether an expression is
a function call using command syntax.
In general, when MATLAB recognizes an identifier (which might name a function or a variable), it
analyzes the characters that follow the identifier to determine the type of expression, as follows:
• An equal sign (=) implies assignment. For example:
ls =d
• An open parenthesis after an identifier implies a function call. For example:
ls('./d')
• Space after an identifier, but not after a potential operator, implies a function call using command
syntax. For example:
ls ./d
• Spaces on both sides of a potential operator, or no spaces on either side of the operator, imply an
operation on variables. For example, these statements are equivalent:
ls ./ d
ls./d
Therefore, MATLAB treats the potentially ambiguous statement ls ./d as a call to the ls function
using command syntax.
The best practice is to avoid defining variable names that conflict with common functions, to prevent
any ambiguity.
See Also
“Calling Functions” | “Create Functions in Files” on page 20-2
Choose Command Syntax or Function Syntax
1-9