Declare Variable in Advance

One way to avoid dynamically adding a variable to static workspaces is to explicitly declare the variable in the code before dynamically assigning a value to that variable. Doing so will cause the variable name to be visible to MATLAB, so the name will be included in the fixed set of variables that make up the static workspace.

For example, suppose a script named makeX.m dynamically assigns a value to variable X. A function that calls makeX and explicitly declares X avoids the dynamic adding error because X is in the function workspace.

A common way to declare a variable is to initialize its value to an empty array:

function noerror

nestedfx

    function nestedfx
        X = [];
        makeX
    end
end

Using eval, evalin, or assignin to Assign New Variables In a Nested Function

Using eval, evalin, or assignin to assign new variables inside of a nested functions will generate an error.

function staticWorkspaceErrors
    function nest
    % This will error since x is not declared outside of the eval
        eval("x=2"); 
    end
end

If possible, avoid these functions altogether. See Alternatives to the eval Function. If it is not possible to avoid them, then explicitly declare the variable within the parent function:

function noStaticWorkspaceErrors
    x = [];
    function nest
    % This will not error since 'x' is declared outside of the eval
        eval("x=2");
    end
end

Using a MATLAB script to Assign New Variables In a Nested Function

Calling a MATLAB script that creates a variable inside of a nested function will generate an error. In the example below, the script, scriptThatIntroducesZ, contains code that assigns a value to the variable z. Since the code does not explicitly declare that z is being assigned an error will be thrown.

function staticWorkspaceErrors
    function nest
    % This will error since 'z' is not declared outside of this script
        scriptThatIntroducesZ 
    end
end

To avoid an error, declare the variable within the function before calling the script that assigns a value to it.

function noStaticWorkspaceErrors
    function nest
    % This will not error since 'z' is declared outside of the script
        z = [];
        scriptThatIntroducesZ
    end
end

Alternatively, convert the script to a function and make z its output argument. This approach also makes the code clearer.

Use Explicit Variable Name with load Function

Using load to assign variables inside of a nested function, without explicitly specifying the variable name will generate an error. In the example below, load is used to load a MAT-file containing the variable Y. Since the code does not explicitly declare that Y is being assigned an error will be thrown.

function staticWorkspaceErrors
    function nest
        % This will error since var Y is not explicitly specified
        load MatFileWithVarY 
    end
end

To avoid an error, instead specify the variable name as an input to the load function.

function noStaticWorkspaceErrors
    function nest
    % This will not error since variables 'x' and 'y' are specified    
        load MatFileWithVarX x
        y = load('MatFileWithVarY','y');
    end
end

Alternatively, assign the output from the load function to a structure array.

Assigning a Variable in the MATLAB Debugger in a Nested Function

While debugging, you cannot add a variable using the debug command prompt if you are stopped in a nested function. Assign the variable into the base workspace, which is not static.

K>> assignin('base','X',myvalue)

Assigning a Variable in an Anonymous Functions

Anonymous functions cannot contain variable assignments. When the anonymous function is called an error will be thrown.

% This will error since 'x' is being assigned inside 
% the anonymous function
@()eval("x=2")

Rewrite the function in such a way that variable assignments are not required.

xEquals2 = @()2;
x = xEquals2()

x =

     2