Handle to function
A function handle is a MATLAB® data type that represents a function. A typical use of function handles is to pass a function to another function. For example, you can use function handles as input arguments to functions that evaluate mathematical expressions over a range of values. Other typical uses of function handles include:
Specifying callback functions (for example, a callback that responds to a UI event or interacts with data acquisition hardware).
Constructing handles to functions defined inline instead of stored in a program file (anonymous functions).
Create a function handle using the @ operator. Function handles can
represent either named or anonymous functions.
Named function handles represent functions in existing program
files, including functions that are part of MATLAB and functions that you create using the function keyword.
To create a handle to a named function, precede the function name with
@.
For example, create a handle to the sin function, and then use fminbnd to find the value of x that minimizes
sin(x) in the range from 0 to :
f = @sin; m = fminbnd(f,0,2*pi);
Anonymous function handles (often called anonymous
functions) represent single inline executable expressions that return one
output. To define an anonymous function, enclose input argument names in parentheses
immediately after the @ operator, and then specify the executable
expression.
For example, create a handle to an anonymous function that evaluates the expression x2 − y2:
f = @(x,y) (x.^2 - y.^2);
Anonymous functions can accept multiple inputs but return only one output.