# Object-Oriented Programming
# Value vs Handle classes
Classes in MATLAB are divided into two major categories: value classes and handle classes. The major difference is that when copying an instance of a value class, the underlying data is copied to the new instance, while for handle classes the new instance points to the original data and changing values in new instance changes them in the original. A class can be defined as a handle by inheriting from the handle class.
classdef valueClass
properties
data
end
end
and
classdef handleClass < handle
properties
data
end
end
then
>> v1 = valueClass;
>> v1.data = 5;
>> v2 = v1;
>> v2.data = 7;
>> v1.data
ans =
5
>> h1 = handleClass;
>> h1.data = 5;
>> h2 = h1;
>> h2.data = 7;
>> h1.data
ans =
7
# Defining a class
A class can be defined using classdef in an .m file with the same name as the class. The file can contain the classdef...end block and local functions for use within class methods.
The most general MATLAB class definition has the following structure:
classdef (ClassAttribute = expression, ...) ClassName < ParentClass1 & ParentClass2 & ...
properties (PropertyAttributes)
PropertyName
end
methods (MethodAttributes)
function obj = methodName(obj,arg2,...)
...
end
end
events (EventAttributes)
EventName
end
enumeration
EnumName
end
end
MATLAB Documentation: Class attributes (opens new window), Property attributes (opens new window), Method attributes (opens new window), Event attributes (opens new window), Enumeration class restrictions (opens new window).
# Example class:
A class called Car can be defined in file Car.m as
classdef Car < handle % handle class so properties persist
properties
make
model
mileage = 0;
end
methods
function obj = Car(make, model)
obj.make = make;
obj.model = model;
end
function drive(obj, milesDriven)
obj.mileage = obj.mileage + milesDriven;
end
end
end
Note that the constructor is a method with the same name as the class. <A constructor is a special method of a class or structure in object-oriented programming that initializes an object of that type. A constructor is an instance method that usually has the same name as the class, and can be used to set the values of the members of an object, either to default or to user-defined values.>
An instance of this class can be created by calling the constructor;
>> myCar = Car('Ford', 'Mustang'); //creating an instance of car class
Calling the drive method will increment the mileage
>> myCar.mileage
ans =
0
>> myCar.drive(450);
>> myCar.mileage
ans =
450
# Constructors
A constructor (opens new window) is a special method in a class that is called when an instance of an object is created. It is a regular MATLAB function that accepts input parameters but it also must follow certain rules (opens new window).
Constructors are not required as MATLAB creates a default one. In practice, however, this is a place to define a state of an object. For example, properties can be restricted by specifying attributes (opens new window). Then, a constructor can initalize (opens new window) such properties by default or user defined values which in fact can sent by input parameters of a constructor.
Calling a constructor of a simple class
This is a simple class Person.
classdef Person
properties
name
surname
address
end
methods
function obj = Person(name,surname,address)
obj.name = name;
obj.surname = surname;
obj.address = address;
end
end
end
The name of a constructor is the same the name of a class. Consequently, constructors are called by the name of its class. A class Person can be created as follows:
>> p = Person('John','Smith','London')
p =
Person with properties:
name: 'John'
surname: 'Smith'
address: 'London'
Calling a constructor of a child class
Classes can be inherited from parent classes if the share common properties or methods. When a class is inherited from another, it is likely that a constructor of a parent class has to be called.
A class Member inherits from a class Person because Member uses the same properties as the class Person but it also adds payment to its definition.
classdef Member < Person
properties
payment
end
methods
function obj = Member(name,surname,address,payment)
obj = obj@Person(name,surname,address);
obj.payment = payment;
end
end
end
Similarly to the class Person, Member is created by calling its constructor:
>> m = Member('Adam','Woodcock','Manchester',20)
m =
Member with properties:
payment: 20
name: 'Adam'
surname: 'Woodcock'
address: 'Manchester'
A constructor of Person requires three input parameters. Member must respect this fact and therefore call a constructor of the class Person with three parameters. It is fulfilled by the line:
obj = obj@Person(name,surname,address);
The example above shows the case when a child class needs information for its parent class. This is why a constructor of Member requires four parameters: three for its parent class and one for itself.
# Inheriting from classes and abstract classes
Disclaimer: the examples presented here are only for the purpose of showing the use of abstract classes and inheritance and may not necessarily be of a practical use. Also, there is no sich thing as polymorphic in MATLAB and therefore the use of abstract classes is limited. This example is to show who to create a class, inherit from another class and apply an abstract class to define a common interface.
The use of abstract classes is rather limited in MATLAB but it still can come useful on a couple of occasions.
Let's say we want a message logger. We might create a class similar to the one below:
classdef ScreenLogger
properties(Access=protected)
scrh;
end
methods
function obj = ScreenLogger(screenhandler)
obj.scrh = screenhandler;
end
function LogMessage(obj, varargin)
if ~isempty(varargin)
varargin{1} = num2str(varargin{1});
fprintf(obj.scrh, '%s\n', sprintf(varargin{:}));
end
end
end
end
Properties and methods
In short, properties hold a state of an object whilst methods are like interface and define actions on objects.
The property scrh is protected. This is why it must be initialized in a constructor. There are other methods (getters) to access this property but it is out of cope of this example. Properties and methods can be access via a variable that holds a reference to an object by using dot notation followed by a name of a method or a property:
mylogger = ScreenLogger(1); % OK
mylogger.LogMessage('My %s %d message', 'very', 1); % OK
mylogger.scrh = 2; % ERROR!!! Access denied
Properties and methods can be public, private, or protected. In this case, protected means that I will be able to access to scrh from an inherited class but not from outside. By default all properties and methods are public. Therefore LogMessage() can freely be used outside the class definition. Also LogMessage defines an interface meaning this is what we must call when we want an object to log our custom messages.
Application
Let's say I have a script where I utilize my logger:
clc;
% ... a code
logger = ScreenLogger(1);
% ... a code
logger.LogMessage('something');
% ... a code
logger.LogMessage('something');
% ... a code
logger.LogMessage('something');
% ... a code
logger.LogMessage('something');
If I have multiple places where I use the same logger and then want to change it to something more sophisticated, such as write a message in a file, I would have to create another object:
classdef DeepLogger
properties(SetAccess=protected)
FileName
end
methods
function obj = DeepLogger(filename)
obj.FileName = filename;
end
function LogMessage(obj, varargin)
if ~isempty(varargin)
varargin{1} = num2str(varargin{1});
fid = fopen(obj.fullfname, 'a+t');
fprintf(fid, '%s\n', sprintf(varargin{:}));
fclose(fid);
end
end
end
end
and just change one line of a code into this:
clc;
% ... a code
logger = DeepLogger('mymessages.log');
The above method will simply open a file, append a message at the end of the file and close it. At the moment, to be consistent with my interface, I need to remember that the name of a method is LogMessage() but it could equally be anything else. MATLAB can force developper to stick to the same name by using abstract classes. Let's say we define a common interface for any logger:
classdef MessageLogger
methods(Abstract=true)
LogMessage(obj, varargin);
end
end
Now, if both ScreenLogger and DeepLogger inherit from this class, MATLAB will generate an error if LogMessage() is not defined. Abstract classes help to build similar classes which can use the same interface.
For the sake of this exmaple, I will make slightly different change. I am going to assume that DeepLogger will do both logging message on a screen and in a file at the same time. Because ScreenLogger already log messages on screen, I am going to inherit DeepLogger from the ScreenLoggger to avoid repetition. ScreenLogger doesn't change at all apart from the first line:
classdef ScreenLogger < MessageLogger
// the rest of previous code
However, DeepLogger needs more changes in the LogMessage method:
classdef DeepLogger < MessageLogger & ScreenLogger
properties(SetAccess=protected)
FileName
Path
end
methods
function obj = DeepLogger(screenhandler, filename)
[path,filen,ext] = fileparts(filename);
obj.FileName = [filen ext];
pbj.Path = pathn;
obj = obj@ScreenLogger(screenhandler);
end
function LogMessage(obj, varargin)
if ~isempty(varargin)
varargin{1} = num2str(varargin{1});
LogMessage@ScreenLogger(obj, varargin{:});
fid = fopen(obj.fullfname, 'a+t');
fprintf(fid, '%s\n', sprintf(varargin{:}));
fclose(fid);
end
end
end
end
Firstly, I simply initialize properties in the constructor. Secondly, because this class inherits from ScreenLogger I have to initialize this parrent object as well. This line is even more important because ScreenLogger constructor requires one parameter to initalize its own object. This line:
obj = obj@ScreenLogger(screenhandler);
simply says "call the consructor of ScreenLogger and initalize it with a screen handler". It is worth noting here that I have defined scrh as protected. Therefore, I could equally access this property from DeepLogger. If the property was defined as private. The only way to intialize it would be using consuctor.
Another change is in section methods. Again to avoid repetition, I call LogMessage() from a parent class to log a message on a screen. If I had to change anything to make improvements in screen logging, now I have to do it in one place. The rest code is the same as it is a part of DeepLogger.
Because this class also inherits from an abstract class MessageLogger I had to make sure that LogMessage() inside DeepLogger is also defined. Inheritting from MessageLogger is a little bit tricky here. I think it cases redefinition of LogMessage mandatory--my guess.
In terms of the code where the a logger is applied, thanks to a common interface in classes, I can rest assure ther changin this one line in the whole code would not make any issues. The same messages will be log on screen as before but additionally the code will write such messages to a file.
clc;
% ... a code
logger = DeepLogger(1, 'mylogfile.log');
% ... a code
logger.LogMessage('something');
% ... a code
logger.LogMessage('something');
% ... a code
logger.LogMessage('something');
% ... a code
logger.LogMessage('something');
I hope these examples explained the use of classes, the use of inheritance, and the use of abstract classes.
PS. The solution for the above problem is one of many. Another solution, less complex, would be to make ScreenLoger to be a component of another logger like FileLogger etc. ScreenLogger would be held in one of the properties. Its LogMessage would simply call LogMessage of the ScreenLogger and show text on a screen. I have chosen more complex approach to rather show how classes work in MATLAB. The example code below:
classdef DeepLogger < MessageLogger
properties(SetAccess=protected)
FileName
Path
ScrLogger
end
methods
function obj = DeepLogger(screenhandler, filename)
[path,filen,ext] = fileparts(filename);
obj.FileName = [filen ext];
obj.Path = pathn;
obj.ScrLogger = ScreenLogger(screenhandler);
end
function LogMessage(obj, varargin)
if ~isempty(varargin)
varargin{1} = num2str(varargin{1});
obj.LogMessage(obj.ScrLogger, varargin{:}); % <-------- thechange here
fid = fopen(obj.fullfname, 'a+t');
fprintf(fid, '%s\n', sprintf(varargin{:}));
fclose(fid);
end
end
end
end