Build C++ MEX Programs

Build your C++ MEX application using the MATLAB^® mex to set up your environment and compile the C++ source code.

Supported Compilers

Use compilers that support C++11. For an up-to-date list of supported compilers, see the Supported and Compatible Compilers website.

Build .cpp File with `mex` Command

If you have installed one of the supported compilers, set up the compiler for C++ MEX applications using the mex command. When provided with an option to select a compiler, select an installed compiler that the MATLAB C++ MEX supports.

mex -setup C++

Build your C++ MEX program using the MATLAB mex command.

mex MyMEXCode.cpp

MEX Include Files

Include the following header files in your C++ source code. Header files contain function declarations with prototypes for the routines that you access in the API libraries. These files are in the matlabroot/extern/include folder and are the same for Windows^®, Mac, and Linux^® systems. C++ MEX files use these header files:

mex.hpp — Definitions for the C++ MEX API
mexAdapter.hpp — Utilities required by the C++ MEX function operator

Note

Include mexAdapter.hpp only once with the MexFunction class definition in MEX applications that span multiple files.

File Extensions

MEX files are platform-specific. MATLAB identifies MEX files by these platform-specific file extensions.

MEX File Platform-Dependent Extension

Platform	Binary MEX File Extension
Windows	`mexw64`
Linux	`mexa64`
macOS with Apple silicon	`mexmaca64`
macOS with Intel^®	`mexmaci64`

Note

MEX files built on macOS with Intel are not supported on the Apple silicon platform using Rosetta 2.