Common pitfalls in Matlab

• Using a function name as a variable. This will hide the function, making it impossible to call it. Example:

  >> line=[0 0 1 1];

  >> line(x,y);

  >> % Instead of creating a line, an error message is probably produced.

• Mis-spelling function in the beginning of an m-file. This will give the error M-file scripts return no outputs. when trying to call the function with return arguments and Missing operator, comma, or semi-colon. when calling it without return arguments.
• Forgetting an end after an if clause early in the function (e.g. an error checking clause), which will consider the main part of the function being part of that if clause, hence ignoring it unless the specified error occurs. If your function returns a lot of empty matrices, and appears to do nothing, this might be the error.