This topic explains the term private function, and shows how to create and use private functions.
Private functions are useful when you want to limit the scope
of a function. You designate a function as private by storing it in
a subfolder with the name private. Then, the function
is available only to functions in the folder immediately above the private subfolder,
or to scripts called by the functions that reside in the parent folder.
For example, within a folder that is on the MATLAB® search
path, create a subfolder named private. Do not
add private to the path. Within the private folder,
create a function in a file named findme.m:
function findme % FINDME An example of a private function. disp('You found the private function.')
Change to the folder that contains the private folder
and create a file named visible.m.
function visible
findmeChange your current folder to any location and call the visible function.
visible
You found the private function.
Although you cannot call the private function from the command
line or from functions outside the parent of the private folder,
you can access its help:
help private/findmefindme An example of a private function.
Private functions have precedence over standard functions, so MATLAB finds
a private function named test.m before a nonprivate
program file named test.m. This allows you to create
an alternate version of a particular function while retaining the
original in another folder.