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Python Vs MATLAB: Know The Major Differences!

Python vs MATLAB.

These are two programming languages that have made a name for themselves and have been around for some time. While both of them are super popular in the development world, python and MATLAB have communities divided in two.

With the versatility of Python, people from all kinds of work backgrounds love it. And it’s safe to say it’s very – very popular. On the other hand, MATLAB is more leaned toward, nerdy work like matrix manipulation and other advanced programming. Therefore, there is a big community that uses MATLAB religiously.

So, which one is better MATLAB vs Python? If you are looking for an answer to this question, this blog is for you.

Here, we shall be discussing, all you need to know about Python and MATLAB. Therefore, let’s get right into it:

Python

“What is Python?” has asked no one ever.

This is one of the most popular programming languages in the development world right now. Unknown to a lot of people, python was created back in the year 1991, by Guido Van Rossum in the Python software foundation.

This programming language is perfect for beginners, bankers, data analysts, lawyers, and anyone who could write using a keyboard.

In layman’s terms, it’s very easy to use and has code readability. And let us tell you, it’s very very easy to write code in python.

There are two major versions of Python in use today. These are:

Python 2
Python 3

There are some subtle differences between these two versions. Moreover, there are various libraries available for python that make it quite versatile.

You can hire a Python Development Company for a range of tasks like web development, app development, AI solution development, and whatnot.

In any case, with this out of the way, let’s look at the features and uses of Python Programming languages in the section below:

Uses & Features

One of the main features of Python is that it’s really-REALLY easy to learn. The credit for this goes to its clean and clear syntax.
What gives python the upper hand in Python vs MATLAB is that it’s super portable. You can run it anywhere and it’s a breeze to work with on high-end servers as well as a workstation.
If you didn’t already know, Python is an open-source programming language. What this means is, it’s free for anyone and everyone to use. Adding to the goodness is the fact that, it’s extensible.
Another top feature of Python programming language is that, in order to delimit the blocks, it uses white spaces.

These are some of the top features of python programming languages. But as with everything, Python comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look at them below.

Advantages Of Python

Some of the best advantages that come with Python are, as mentioned below:

Easy to learn
High readability
Interpreted Language
Open-Source
Highly Portable
Dynamically Typed
Range of Available Libraries Support

Moving on, let’s look at some of the top drawbacks of this programming language, grasping a better picture of Python vs MATLAB.

Disadvantages Of Python

Python despite being one of the most popular programming languages and very easy to use has its pitfalls. And these are, as mentioned below:

Slow performance speed
Weak mobile computing
Memory intensive
Prone to runtime errors
Database access issues

Read the blog- Top 9 PHP Alternatives For Web Development

Matlab

MATLAB stands for MATrix LABoratory. And bear with us, but it is about to get quite tricky.

It is a proprietary multi-paradigm programming language & numeric computing environment. This programming language was developed back in the late 1970s ( yes, it’s really that old) by MathWorks.

Though not for main streaming programming as we know it, MATLAB does open a lot of doors. For instance, it allows matrix manipulation, function, data plotting, algorithm implementations, UI development, and communication with other programs, among other things.

The programming language was originally based on numeric computing. As with any other language, when you pair it with MuPAD symbolic engine, there are various things you can do with it. This is just one example and there are a number of other things that it can do

Its nature gives this programming language the upper hand in, Python vs MATLAB for data science and other such tasks.

Speaking of which, let’s look at some of the top use cases and features of MATLAB below:

Uses & Features

A major benefit of MATLAB is that it allows working through simulation. And what this does is, saves a lot of time, reduces cost, and so on.
Another top feature of this rather unique programming language is its unique image-processing ability.
If you thought MATLAB was just a programming language, you are wrong. It also doubles as a programming interface.

With this out of the way, let’s look at some of the top advantages and disadvantages of MATLAB below.

Advantages Of MATLAB

It is easy to use
Comes with Predefined Functions
Graphical User Interface
Platform Independence
Integrated Compiler
Device-Independent Plotting

Now, let’s look at some of the top drawbacks.

Disadvantages Of MATLAB

So, what are some of the disadvantages that come with MATLAB? Well, there aren’t many, but it does come with some disadvantages. These are:

High Cost of running
Interpreted language

So, now that we are done with both MATLAB vs Python. Now, it’s time to compare them on different parameters.

Read the blog- How Much Does It Cost to Hire Python Developers in 2023?

Python vs MATLAB: Head-To-Head Comparison

It’s time to compare Python vs MATLAB performance to give you a better idea of their working. So, without wasting time, let’s look at it, it’s, as mentioned below:

Python	MATLAB
Python uses cluster ordering and like other languages, it supports 0-based ordering. This makes it adaptable to various programming languages like C, C++, & JAVA.	As opposed to Python, MATLAB uses one-based ordering. This makes it very compatible with Vectors and Networks. However, this also makes it incompatible with other languages.
This programming language provides developers with an open environment that works with another integrated instrument.	MATLAB is based on arithmetic capacities, which is quite uncommon. Therefore, it is mainly focused on numerical investigation, graphical visualization, flag preparation, etc.
Most of the libraries for Python are focused on general-purpose programming languages. Plus, it also has modules for working frameworks. This includes threading, organizing, databases, etc	MATLAB is too green in libraries area. But there is a standard library that comes with sufficient toolkits. This allows developers to tackle complex scientific issues.
Python as a programming language is said to be consisting of a broad standard library.	In the MATLAB vs python speed debate a big question comes about, no bland programming functionality in the standard library of MATLAB.
When it comes to the Python programming language, the development community can expect and enjoy real-time Support	Something that MATLAB misses out on is the real-time support for the community.

These are some of the major differences between Python and MATLAB. And with this, we have come to the end of our blog.

Conclusion

Python vs MATLAB is both amazing programming languages but two very different things. While one of them is a super specific purpose-built one, the other one is general purpose. But this blog did well to clear the general miss conception between these two. And with this, we conclude our blog.

Niketan Sharma

Niketan Sharma is the CTO of Nimble AppGenie, a prominent website and mobile app development company in the USA that is delivering excellence with a commitment to boosting business growth & maximizing customer satisfaction. He is a highly motivated individual who helps SMEs and startups grow in this dynamic market with the latest technology and innovation.