MATLAB Object-Oriented Programming

Handle Compatible Classes

In this section...

“Basic Knowledge” on page 12-39

“When to Use Handle Compatible Classes” on page 12-39

“Handle Compatibility Rules” on page 12-40

“Identify Handle Objects” on page 12-40

Basic Knowledge

The material presented in this section builds on knowledge of the following information.

• “Design Subclass Constructors” on page 12-9


• “Subclassing Multiple Classes” on page 12-22


• “Comparison of Handle and Value Classes” on page 7-2

Key Concepts

Handle-compatible class — a class that you can include with handle classes in a class

hierarchy, even if the class is not a handle class.

• All handle classes are handle-compatible.


• All superclasses of handle-compatible classes must also be handle compatible.

HandleCompatible — the class attribute that defines nonhandle classes as handle

compatible.

When to Use Handle Compatible Classes

Typically, when deriving a MATLAB class from other classes, all the superclasses are

handle classes, or else none of them are handle classes. However, there are situations in

which a class provides some utility that is used by both handle and non-handle subclasses.

Because it is not legal to combine handle and non-handle classes, the author of the utility

class must implement two distinct versions of the utility.

The solution is to use handle-compatible classes. Handle compatible classes are a type of

class that you can use with handle classes when forming sets of superclasses. Designate a

Handle Compatible Classes