What is MATLAB written in?
The MATLAB runtime is written in C.
MATLAB is a numerical computing environment, first released in 1984.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | C (since 1984) | MATLAB runtime engine written in C and C++ |
Runtime model
The MATLAB runtime, written in C, manages the execution of MATLAB programs. Runtime-based languages rely on a host process to interpret or compile code at runtime rather than compiling entirely ahead-of-time to native machine code. This means running MATLAB programs requires the runtime to be present on the target system.
The choice of C for the runtime gives MATLAB access to native performance, established platform abstractions, and existing ecosystem libraries.
Explore in the Graph
See MATLAB's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
Open Interactive Graph →Or view the MATLAB language page for the complete record.