FreeMat
STR2FUNC String to Function conversion

Section: Functions and Scripts

Usage

The str2func function converts a function name into a function pointer. The syntax is

    y = str2func('funcname')

where funcname is the name of the function. The return variable y is a function handle that points to the given function.

An alternate syntax is used to construct an anonymous function given an expression. They syntax is

    y = str2func('anonymous def')

where anonymous def is an expression that defines an anonymous function, for example '@(x) x.^2'.

Example

Here is a simple example of using str2func.

--> sin(.5)              % Calling the function directly

ans = 
    0.4794 

--> y = str2func('sin')  % Convert it into a function handle

y = 
 @sin
--> y(.5)                % Calling 'sin' via the function handle

ans = 
    0.4794 

Here we use str2func to define an anonymous function

--> y = str2func('@(x) x.^2')

y = 
 @(x)   x.^2
--> y(2)

ans = 
 4