Difference Between Matlab and C Language
Last Updated :
18 Mar, 2024
Matlab and C are both powerful programming languages but they serve different purposes and have distinct features. In this article, we will learn the fundamental differences between Matlab and the C language.
MATLAB
MATLAB stands for Matrix Laboratory and is a high-level programming language primarily used for numerical computing such as matrix manipulations, implementation of algorithms, data plotting, data analysis, and visualization. It provides an extensive set of built-in functions and toolboxes for various scientific and engineering applications.
C Programming Language
C is a general-purpose programming language known for its efficiency and flexibility. Developed for system programming it is widely used in software development, game development, and embedded systems and follows a procedural programming paradigm allowing direct manipulation of the memory through pointers and is known for its usage in general-purpose, portable, low-level memory access, fast speed, and clean syntax.
Difference Between Matlab and C Language
The below table illustrates the key differences between MATLAB and C Language.
Characteristics
| MATLAB
| C Language
|
|---|
Language Type
| MATLAB is a high-performance scripting language. | C is a mid-level general-purpose programming language.
|
|---|
Usage
| Primarily used for matrix manipulations, implementation of algorithms, plotting of functions, and data.
| General-purpose programming language with applications in system programming, game development and more.
|
|---|
Syntax
| The High-level and matrix-based syntax suitable for the mathematical operations.
| Low-level syntax with the procedural and structured programming approach.
|
|---|
Open-source and Cost
| It is not an open-source and has license cost attached.
| C is an open-source language
|
|---|
Data Representation
| Native support for the matrix and array operations.
| The Direct manipulation of memory using the pointers; no built-in matrix support.
|
|---|
Ease of Learning
| Relatively easy to learn due to its interactive and availability of lot of tool kits for most of the functionalities.
| C follows the syntax of programming language thus, making it hard for the newcomer to comprehend.
|
|---|
Memory Management
| Automatic memory management.
| The Manual memory management requires explicit allocation and deallocation.
|
|---|
Performance
| When it comes to basic mathematical functions, MATLAB have a robust mechanism to handle it.
| C is overall faster than matlab in all kind of operations.
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|---|
Platform Independence
| MATLAB cannot run the same licensed version on different operating systems.
| Highly portable can run on any operating system.
|
|---|
Development Environment
| The Integrated environment with the tools for simulation, debugging and visualization.
| Requires separate compilers and tools; lacks an integrated environment like Matlab.
|
|---|
Conclusion
In summary, The MATLAB and C serve different purposes in the programming world. The MATLAB excels in mathematical modeling, simulations and data analysis, while C is a versatile language suitable for a wide range of applications from the system-level programming to application development.