mexext

Binary MEX filename extension

Syntax

ext = mexext

extlist = mexext('all')

Description

ext = mexext returns the filename extension for the current platform.

extlist = mexext('all') returns the extensions for all platforms.

Examples

Display File Extension for Your Computer

Find the MEX file extension for the system you are currently working on.

ext = mexext

ext = 
'mexa64'

Your results reflect your system.

Find MEX File Extension for Mac Platform

Get the list of file extensions for supported platforms.

extlist = mexext('all');

The mex command identifies a platform by its arch value, which is the output of the computer('arch') command. For Mac platforms, the value is maca64.

Search the arch field in extlist for 'maca64', and display the corresponding ext field.

for k=1:length(extlist)
   if strcmp(extlist(k).arch, 'maca64')
   disp(sprintf('Arch: %s  File Extension: %s', extlist(k).arch, extlist(k).ext))
   end
end

Arch: maca64  File Extension: mexmaca64

Output Arguments

ext — Filename extension

mexw64 | mexa64 | mexmaca64

Filename extension for MEX file, returned as one of these values.

MEX File Platform-Dependent Extension

Platform	Binary MEX File Extension
Windows®	mexw64
Linux®	mexa64
macOS with Apple silicon	mexmaca64

extlist — All filename extensions

structure

All filename extensions, returned as a structure with these fields:

arch — Platform

character vector

Platform, returned as a character vector. The name of the platform is the output of the computer('arch') command.

ext — File extension

character vector

File extension, returned as a character vector.

Tips

• To use the MEX filename extension in makefiles or scripts outside MATLAB^®, type one of the following from the system command prompt. The script is located in the matlabroot\bin folder.

  • mexext.bat—Windows platform.

  • mexext.sh—UNIX^® platform.

    For example, the following commands are in a GNU^® makefile.

    ext = $(shell mexext)
    yprime.$(ext) : yprime.c 
    		mex yprime.c

Extended Capabilities

Thread-Based Environment

Run code in the background using MATLAB® backgroundPool or accelerate code with Parallel Computing Toolbox™ ThreadPool.

The mexext function fully supports thread-based environments. For more information, see Run MATLAB Functions in Thread-Based Environment.

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

R2026a: mexmaci64 filename extension not supported

The mexext function no longer return a .mexmaci64 filename extension because MATLAB is no longer available for Macs with Intel^® processors.