MATLAB is an interactive working environment based on the matrix, the most natural way to express computational mathematics. Moreover, it is a programming language designed for technical computing, mathematical analysis, and system simulation. The integrated graphics make it easy to view and acquire knowledge from the data. Finally, a large library of prebuilt toolboxes allows us to immediately start with programming.
After installing, to start MATLAB, simply double-click on the icon on the desktop; or from the system prompt, type matlab. At first startup, MATLAB will show us a desk of contents with all the necessary items for its proper and smooth operation. Figure 2.1 shows the MATLAB desktop in the R2017a version:
![](https://static.packt-cdn.com/products/9781788398435/graphics/assets/27a42de5-197e-48ab-8ebd-5e7b23fcb743.png)
The MATLAB desktop includes the following panels:
- Current Folder...