Call MATLAB from Python

Write Python^® programs that work with MATLAB^®

The MATLAB Engine API for Python provides a package for Python to call MATLAB as a computational engine. The engine supports the reference implementation (CPython). For supported version information, see Versions of Python Compatible with MATLAB Products by Release.

To install and start the engine, see Get Started with MATLAB Engine API for Python.
To call Python functions from MATLAB, see Call Python from MATLAB.

Engine applications require an installed version of MATLAB; you cannot run the MATLAB engine on a machine that only has the MATLAB Runtime.

Functions

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Python Functions

`matlab.engine.start_matlab`	Start MATLAB Engine for Python
`matlab.engine.find_matlab`	Find shared MATLAB sessions to connect to MATLAB Engine for Python
`matlab.engine.connect_matlab`	Connect shared MATLAB session to MATLAB Engine for Python

MATLAB Functions

`matlab.engine.shareEngine`	Convert running MATLAB session to shared session
`matlab.engine.engineName`	Return name of shared MATLAB session
`matlab.engine.isEngineShared`	Determine if MATLAB session is shared

Classes

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Python Classes

`matlab.engine.MatlabEngine`	Python object using MATLAB as computational engine within Python session
`matlab.engine.FutureResult`	Results of asynchronous call to MATLAB function stored in Python object

Topics

Installing

System Requirements for MATLAB Engine API for Python
What you need to write and build MATLAB engine applications for Python.
Install MATLAB Engine API for Python

To start MATLAB engine within a Python session, install the engine API as a Python package.
- Python Setup Script to Install MATLAB Engine API
- Install MATLAB Engine API for Python in Nondefault Locations

Getting Started

Get Started with MATLAB Engine API for Python
MATLAB Engine API for Python provides a Python package named matlab that enables you to call MATLAB functions from Python.
Start and Stop MATLAB Engine for Python
Options for starting the MATLAB Engine for Python.
Call MATLAB Functions from Python
How to return an output argument from a MATLAB function. How to read multiple outputs from a function. What to do when the MATLAB function does not return an output argument.
Get Help for MATLAB Functions from Python
From Python, you can access supporting documentation for all MATLAB functions.

Session Management

Connect Python to Running MATLAB Session
How to connect the MATLAB Engine for Python to a shared MATLAB session that is already running on your local machine.

Using MATLAB Workspace

Use MATLAB Engine Workspace in Python
This example shows how to add variables to the MATLAB engine workspace in Python.

Data Exchange and Mapping

Use MATLAB Arrays in Python
This example shows how to create a MATLAB array in Python and pass it as the input argument to the MATLAB sqrt function.
MATLAB Arrays as Python Variables
The matlab Python module provides array classes to represent arrays of MATLAB numeric types as Python variables so that MATLAB arrays can be passed between Python and MATLAB.
Pass Data to MATLAB from Python
When you pass Python data as input arguments to MATLAB functions, the MATLAB Engine API for Python converts the data into equivalent MATLAB data types.
Handle Data Returned from MATLAB to Python
When MATLAB functions return output arguments, MATLAB Engine API for Python converts the data into equivalent Python data types.
Use MATLAB Handle Objects in Python
This example shows how to create an object from a MATLAB handle class and call its methods in Python.
Default Numeric Types in MATLAB and Python
MATLAB stores all numeric values as double-precision floating point numbers by default.
Use MATLAB Dictionaries in Python
You can convert a Python dict to a MATLAB dictionary, and a MATLAB dictionary to a Python dict.

Calling MATLAB Functions

Call User Scripts and Functions from Python
This example shows how to call a MATLAB script to compute the area of a triangle from Python.
Sort and Plot MATLAB Data from Python
This example shows how to sort data about patients into lists of smokers and nonsmokers in Python and plot blood pressure readings for the patients with MATLAB.
Call MATLAB Functions Asynchronously from Python
This example shows how to call the MATLAB sqrt function asynchronously from Python and retrieve the square root later.
Redirect Standard Output and Error to Python
This example shows how to redirect standard output and standard error from a MATLAB function to Python StringIO objects.