What does '...' mean in MATLAB?

I came across this script and I've seen h = ... what does it mean?

axis(1.2*[-1 1 -1 1])
axis square
box on
hold on
x = 0;
y = 1;
h = ...
n = 2*pi/h;
plot(x,y,’.’)
for k = 1:n
x = x + h*y;
y = y - h*x;
plot(x,y,’.’)

Answer 1

[Benjamin Avants]

The three dots '...' tell matlab that the code on a given line continues on the next line.

It is used so that command lines don't stretch out too long to print or read easily.

ex.

set(1,'Position',[0,0,1,1],'Tag','MyTag','Color', ...
    [.94,.94,.94]);

This code is interpreted as a single set command with multiple parameters.

In the script you posted, the line in question would actually be interpreted like this:

h = n = 2*pi/h;

which should cause an error.

Whoever wrote the script must be using it as a place holder for something else.

[Douglas Alves]

Yes! There's an error. I was wondering why. Thank you Benjamin

Answer 2

[per isakson]

doc on Special Characters says

Continuation. Three or more periods [...] at the end of a line continue the current function on the next line. Three or more periods before the end of a line cause the MATLAB® software to ignore the remaining text on the current line and continue the function on the next line. This effectively makes a comment out of anything on the current line that follows the three periods. For an example, see Continue Long Statements on Multiple Lines.

[Douglas Alves]

Thank you Isakson, I didn't know the command for that. Thanks