External Interfaces/API

External Interfaces/API

MATLAB provides interfaces to external routines written in other programming languages, data that needs to be shared with external routines, peripheral devices that communicate directly with MATLAB, and software applications ActiveX and Dynamic Data Exchange. Much of this interface capability was formerly referred to under the title of the MATLAB Application Program Interface, or API.

This section introduces the external interfaces that are available with MATLAB. It also contains numerous C and Fortran examples that highlight this functionality. The topics included are:

• Calling C and Fortran Programs from MATLAB - describes how to build C and Fortran subroutines into callable MEX files.
• Creating C Language MEX-Files - shows the components of a C MEX-file and provides specific examples of MEX-files written in C.
• Creating Fortran MEX-Files - shows the components of a Fortran MEX-file and provides specific examples of MEX-files written in Fortran.
• Calling MATLAB from C and Fortran Programs - discusses how to use the MATLAB engine library to call MATLAB from C and Fortran programs.
• Calling Java from MATLAB - describes how to use the MATLAB interface to Java classes and objects.
• Importing and Exporting Data - describes techniques for importing data to and exporting data from the MATLAB environment using MAT-files.
• ActiveX and DDE Support - describes how to use ActiveX and Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) with MATLAB.
• Serial Port I/O - describes how to communicate with peripheral devices such as modems, printers, and scientific instruments that you connect to your computer's serial port.

Calling C and Fortran Programs from MATLAB