Call MATLAB from C

Run MATLAB^® code from C programs, using mxArray

Engine applications are programs that allow you to call MATLAB from your own C/C++ programs, using MATLAB as a computation engine. To build a C engine application, call the mex function.

Note

The MATLAB Engine API for C++ is recommended over the Engine API for C. The MATLAB Engine API for C++ includes modern C++ features for writing engine applications. For more information, see Call MATLAB from C++. There are no plans to remove the Engine API for C.

Engine applications require an installed version of MATLAB; you cannot run the MATLAB engine on a machine that only has the MATLAB Runtime.

To build a C engine application, you need:

Experience writing C source code. You can create C source code files using Engine API for C and C Matrix API functions.
A compiler supported by MATLAB. For an up-to-date list of supported compilers, see Supported and Compatible Compilers.
Use the mex build script with the -client engine option.

Engine API for C

`Engine`	Type for MATLAB engine
`engOpen`	Start MATLAB engine session
`engOpenSingleUse`	Start MATLAB engine session for single, nonshared use
`engClose`	Quit MATLAB engine session
`engEvalString`	Evaluate expression in string
`engGetVariable`	Copy variable from MATLAB engine workspace
`engPutVariable`	Put variable into MATLAB engine workspace
`engGetVisible`	Determine visibility of MATLAB engine session
`engSetVisible`	Show or hide MATLAB engine session
`engOutputBuffer`	Specify buffer for MATLAB output

Topics

Requirements

Requirements to Build Engine C Applications
Install and configure a compiler and run-time environment so you can build C applications to call MATLAB.
Set Up C Development Environment
Set up a development environment to write C applications that call MATLAB functions.

Write Engine Applications

MATLAB Engine APIs for C and Fortran
Call MATLAB from your own C and Fortran programs, using MATLAB as a computation engine.
Call MATLAB Functions from C Applications
Create a C engine application engdemo.c.
Attach to Existing MATLAB Sessions
This example shows how to attach an engine program to a MATLAB session on a Windows^® platform that is already running.
Callbacks in Applications
Design user interface callbacks to be evaluated in the context of the base workspace.

Build and Run Engine Applications

Build and Run C Engine Application on Windows
This example shows how to verify the build process on a Windows platform.
Build and Run C Engine Application on macOS
This example shows how to verify the build process on a macOS platform.
Build and Run C Engine Application on Linux
This example shows how to verify the build process on a Linux^® platform.