Difference Between Matlab and C Language

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

Matlab and C are both powerful programming languages but they serve different purposes and have distinct features. In this article, we will learn the fundamental differences between Matlab and the C language.

MATLAB

MATLAB stands for Matrix Laboratory and is a high-level programming language primarily used for numerical computing such as matrix manipulations, implementation of algorithms, data plotting, data analysis, and visualization. It provides an extensive set of built-in functions and toolboxes for various scientific and engineering applications.

C Programming Language

C is a general-purpose programming language known for its efficiency and flexibility. Developed for system programming it is widely used in software development, game development, and embedded systems and follows a procedural programming paradigm allowing direct manipulation of the memory through pointers and is known for its usage in general-purpose, portable, low-level memory access, fast speed, and clean syntax.

Difference Between Matlab and C Language

The below table illustrates the key differences between MATLAB and C Language.

Characteristics	MATLAB	C Language
Language Type	MATLAB is a high-performance scripting language.	C is a mid-level general-purpose programming language.
Usage	Primarily used for matrix manipulations, implementation of algorithms, plotting of functions, and data.	General-purpose programming language with applications in system programming, game development and more.
Syntax	The High-level and matrix-based syntax suitable for the mathematical operations.	Low-level syntax with the procedural and structured programming approach.
Open-source and Cost	It is not an open-source and has license cost attached.	C is an open-source language
Data Representation	Native support for the matrix and array operations.	The Direct manipulation of memory using the pointers; no built-in matrix support.
Ease of Learning	Relatively easy to learn due to its interactive and availability of lot of tool kits for most of the functionalities.	C follows the syntax of programming language thus, making it hard for the newcomer to comprehend.
Memory Management	Automatic memory management.	The Manual memory management requires explicit allocation and deallocation.
Performance	When it comes to basic mathematical functions, MATLAB have a robust mechanism to handle it.	C is overall faster than matlab in all kind of operations.
Platform Independence	MATLAB cannot run the same licensed version on different operating systems.	Highly portable can run on any operating system.
Development Environment	The Integrated environment with the tools for simulation, debugging and visualization.	Requires separate compilers and tools; lacks an integrated environment like Matlab.

Conclusion

In summary, The MATLAB and C serve different purposes in the programming world. The MATLAB excels in mathematical modeling, simulations and data analysis, while C is a versatile language suitable for a wide range of applications from the system-level programming to application development.