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nargin

Number of function input arguments

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Syntax

nargin
nargin(fun)

Description

nargin returns the number of function input arguments given in the call to the currently executing function. Use this syntax in the body of a function only. When using an arguments validation block, the value returned by nargin within a function is the number of positional arguments provided when the function is called. For more information, see Use nargin Functions During Argument Validation.

example

nargin(fun) returns the number of input arguments that appear in the fun function definition. If the function includes varargin in its definition, then nargin returns the negative of the number of inputs. For example, if function myFun declares inputs a, b, and varargin, then nargin('myFun') returns -3.

If fun refers to a function that uses an arguments validation block, then the returned value is the number of declared positional arguments in the function definition as a non-negative value.

example

Examples

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Open Live Script

In a file named addme.m, create a function that accepts up to two inputs. Use nargin in the body of the function to determine the number of inputs.

type addme.m
function c = addme(a,b)
    switch nargin
        case 2
            c = a + b;
        case 1
            c = a + a;
        otherwise
            c = 0;
    end
end

At the command prompt, call the addme function with two inputs.

c = addme(13,42)
c = 
55

Call the function with one input.

c = addme(13)
c = 
26
Open Live Script

Determine how many inputs a function accepts.

The function addme created in the previous example, has two inputs in its declaration statement (a and b). Define the name of the function as a character vector and use it as input for nargin.

fun = 'addme';
nargin(fun)
ans = 
2
Open Live Script

Determine how many inputs a function that uses varargin can accept.

In a file named mynewplot.m, create a function that accepts numeric inputs x and y and any number of additional plot inputs using varargin.

type mynewplot.m
function mynewplot(x,y,varargin)
    figure
    plot(x,y,varargin{:})
    title('My New Plot')
end

Query how many inputs newplot can accept.

fx = 'mynewplot';
nargin(fx)
ans = 
-3

The minus sign indicates that the third input is varargin. The mynewplot function can accept an indeterminate number of additional input arguments.

Input Arguments

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Function for which nargin returns the number of input arguments from its definition, specified as a function handle, a character vector, or a string scalar.

Example: @cos

Example: 'plot'

Data Types: char | function_handle

Extended Capabilities

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

See Also

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