`metaclass`

Returns the meta.class object that describes the class of an object.

Syntax

mc = metaclass(obj)

Returns the class description of obj, which can be a built-in value or an object.

Description

metaclass is the programmatic form of the ?ClassName syntax: it gives access to the reflection data of a class. Use mc.Name for the class name, mc.SuperclassList for the direct superclasses, and the property and method lists to inspect what a class defines.

Because it takes an instance, metaclass(x) always describes class(x). To start from a class name only, create or pass an instance of that class.

Input arguments

obj: Any value. Its class is described, not the value itself.

Output arguments

mc: A meta.class object with properties such as Name, SuperclassList, PropertyList, MethodList and HandleCompatible.

Example

Inspecting a built-in class

mc = metaclass(containers.Map);
disp(mc.Name)
disp({mc.SuperclassList.Name})
disp(mc.HandleCompatible)

Output

containers.Map
    {'handle'}
   1

Notes

For built-in classes the property and method lists contain the members MatLivre knows, so their lengths can differ from MATLAB's.

metaclass