MATLAB Programming Fundamentals - MathWorks

Private Functions

This topic explains the term private function, and shows how to create and use private

functions.

Private functions are useful when you want to limit the scope of a function. You designate

a function as private by storing it in a subfolder with the name private. Then, the

function is available only to functions in the folder immediately above the private

subfolder, or to scripts called by the functions that reside in the parent folder.

For example, within a folder that is on the MATLAB search path, create a subfolder

named private. Do not add private to the path. Within the private folder, create a

function in a file named findme.m:

function findme

% FINDME An example of a private function.

disp('You found the private function.')

Change to the folder that contains the private folder and create a file named

visible.m.

function visible

findme

Change your current folder to any location and call the visible function.

visible

You found the private function.

Although you cannot call the private function from the command line or from functions

outside the parent of the private folder, you can access its help:

help private/findme

findme An example of a private function.

Private functions have precedence over standard functions, so MATLAB finds a private

function named test.m before a nonprivate program file named test.m. This allows you

to create an alternate version of a particular function while retaining the original in

another folder.

Private Functions