memory - Is there any way to assign matrix views instead of copying matrices themselves in Matlab, like in NumPy? -

a = b(1, :) 

.. copies first row of b a.

is there anyway create matrix view object, like

frb = view(b(1, :)) 

to able refere view of matrix ? also, make so

b(1, 3) = 123123;     % set b(1, 3) 123123 illustration purposes frb(3) = 9999;        % set b(1, 3) 9999 disp(b(1, 3));        % prints 9999 

see numpy example that: http://docs.scipy.org/doc/numpy/reference/generated/numpy.ndarray.view.html

you can use pointers in matlab point same matrix without making copy. here's simple example based on code using pointers in matlab

first define class inherits handle class, matlab's pointer class. class properties store matrix.

classdef handleobject < handle    properties       object=[]; % matrix    end     methods       function obj=handleobject(receivedobject) %this constructor          obj.object=receivedobject;       end    end end 

to declare matrix , matrix view, following

m = handleobject(ones(5,5)); %the constructor passes matrix object property m_view = m; %m_view copy of pointer  m.object(1,1) = 5; %change matrix changing object property   display(m_view.object(1,1)) %this should display 5 

you add more functions handleobject correspond desired views.