how does a function invoke the inputs?

function [result] = test02(type,a,b,c,d)
%This function is used to test what will happen if only part of the inputs
%are needed to get the result.
switch type
    case '1' 
        result=a+b;
    case '2'
        result=a+b+c+d;
    otherwise
        warning('Unexpected input type. Please check the input.')
end

end

I wonder how Matlab function tacitly 'uses' the inputs, so I wrote the function above and type the piece of codes below in the command line to see what if only part of the inputs are given. Unexpectedly, no error came up (Personally 'c' and 'd' are not essential to get the result for case '1'). Could anyone explain the reason why the function still works when only part of the inputs (type, a, b) are given? What's the mechanism of calling the inputs in a Matlab function?

type= '1';
a=1; b=2; c=3; d=4;
[result] = test02(type,a,b)

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

1. MATLAB's function input and output arguments are entirely positional. Their names are irrelevant.
2. When calling a function, you need to provide the inputs that are used in the code that actually runs, e.g. if only the 3rd input is used in the code that runs then the 3rd input must be provided.
3. ...but because of rule 1., this means you also also need to provide the 1st and 2nd inpust as well, although their values will be completely ignored because the code that runs does not use them.
4. Unused inputs cannot be left "blank". Usually an empty array is used.

[Shuangfeng Jiang]

You perfectly answered my question. Thx.

Answer 2

[KSSV]

It is because, your type = '1' needs only two inputs a,b ..

You try using type = '2' with only two inputs..it will throw error. For the type = '1' case, it needs only two inputs a, b nd you have provided them so there is no error.

[Shuangfeng Jiang]

Thx for answering. But the function is defined with 5 inputs, can we call the function with the no.inputs less than 5?

The example below would describe my confusion better.

function [result] = test03(type,a,b,c,d)
% case 1 was modified 
switch type
    case '1' 
        result=a+c;
    case '2'
        result=a+b+c+d;
    otherwise
        warning('Unexpected input type. Please check the input.')
end
end

For the modified function above, if I've only got 'a' and 'c' ('b' ,'d' are unknown), and case = '1', what should I type in the command line? May I left 'b' blank like below?

type= '1';
a=1;  c=3; 
[result] = test02(type,a, ,c)

[Rik]

You can put in anything you want, because your function is going to ignore the actual contents of the variable. Usually people use an empty array [] to show that an input is ignored.

type= '1';
a=1;  c=3; 
result = test02(type,a,[],c)