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11.9.1 Function Handles

A function handle is a pointer to another function and is defined with the syntax

     @function-name

For example

     f = @sin;

Creates a function handle called f that refers to the function sin.

Function handles are used to call other functions indirectly, or to pass a function as an argument to another function like quad or fsolve. For example

     f = @sin;
     quad (f, 0, pi)
         => 2

You may use feval to call a function using function handle, or simply write the name of the function handle followed by an argument list. If there are no arguments, you must use an empty argument list `()'. For example

     f = @sin;
     feval (f, pi/4)
         => 0.70711
     f (pi/4)
         => 0.70711

— Built-in Function: functions (fcn_handle)

Return a struct containing information about the function handle fcn_handle.

— Built-in Function: func2str (fcn_handle)

Return a string containing the name of the function referenced by the function handle fcn_handle.

— Built-in Function: str2func (fcn_name)

Return a function handle constructed from the string fcn_name.