Documentation about multi-line array (matrix) definition?

I found that I can use multi-line matrix literals. That is,

A = [1 2; 3 4; 5 6]  % This is the common form we use. In a single line.

is the same as

A = [1 2
    3 4
    5 6]  % Using multiple lines

This also applies to cell arrays.

However, I cannot find any documents about this.

Matrix tutorial https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/learn_matlab/matrices-and-arrays.html does not say about ths multi-line array creation.

If I try to find something about multi-line, only https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/continue-long-statements-on-multiple-lines.html shows up.

Is there any documentation about this? Is this usable to all previous versions?

Answer 1

[madhan ravi]

https://in.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/matlab-operators-and-special-characters.html

[Taejun Jang]

I cannot infer that

A = [1 2
     3 4
     5 6]

is syntactically valid from this page. What I can see from this page is

A = [1 2; ...
     3 4; ...
     5 6]

is syntactically valid.

[madhan ravi]

Why the obsession?, if I may.

[Taejun Jang]

Because I am not sure from which version MATLAB supports this syntax.

Official documents usually do not use this syntax, except some toolboxes.

[madhan ravi]

Doesn't it work for older versions? Ok, as far as I surfed couldn't find it , perhaps it's undocumented.

[Taejun Jang]

I assume that this will work for older versions, but I haven't tried since I don't have one installed.

Thanks for the help.

[madhan ravi]

If you're so curious about this maybe you can try to contact the technical team and dig out some infos if plausible. If that infact happens please get back.

[Taejun Jang]

As a note, I contacted the technical support, and they replied as follows:

• ... We have confirmed that this behavior is indeed undocumented. On that note, I will be creating an enhancement request to our documentation team and they may implement it for one of our future updates based upon internal discussions. ...
• ... this undocumented feature is stable and there are no plans as of now to remove it in our future releases. ...

[madhan ravi]

Thank you for following.