Understanding the Prompt in Matlab: Commands and Terminology

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the definition and usage of the term "prompt" in Matlab, particularly in relation to the command window. Participants explore whether the prompt and command window are synonymous and clarify their respective roles in the environment where commands are entered.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks clarification on the definition of "prompt" in Matlab, questioning if it is the same as the command window.
  • Another participant explains that the prompt is represented by the ">>" symbol in the command window where commands are entered.
  • There is a suggestion that the phrasing in a provided example sentence should be corrected from "with looks like" to "which looks like."
  • A later reply humorously attributes the phrasing issue to a spell checker or grammar checker error.
  • One participant distinguishes between the command window as the entire interface and the prompt as a specific symbol within that window, emphasizing their different roles.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the phrasing of the example sentence, but there is a general agreement on the distinction between the command window and the prompt itself.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about terminology and definitions may not be universally accepted, and the discussion does not resolve whether "prompt" and "command window" are interchangeable in all contexts.

mech-eng
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What is the definition of prompt in Matlab. Here is an example sentence.

"commands are entered at the prompt with looks like two successive greater than signs"

Are prompt and command window the same things in Matlab or all computer terminology? If so, is the prompt the environment where we enter commands?

Thank you.
 
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It means you'll see >> in the command window where you enter your commands

Code:
>> x=[0:10]
x =
  0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10
>>

I typed in the x=[0:10] statement.
 
Should not it be which looks like instead of with looks like in the sentence?

Thank you.
 
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mech-eng said:
Should not it be which looks like instead of with looks like in the sentence?

Thank you.

Yes, must have been a spell checker or grammar checker failure... "To err is human, to really screw up things you need a computer..."
 
The command window is the whole window, which includes the >> prompt, any commands you type in at the prompt, and any results that get echoed into the window. It's essentially the whole white rectangular box.

The command prompt is the >> symbol you see inside the command window, and is where you can type in any command you want. The prompt is just one part of the larger command window.
 

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