Can a function inside a parent code access the full workspace of that parent code?

I have a child function being called inside the original code. Can I have the function be able to access all of the variables (workspace) from the original code? If so, how?

Answer 1

[Evan]

A nested function can access the variables stored in the workspace of its caller function:

function x = outer_function(a,b)

x = inner_function;

      function y = inner_function
          y = a + b;
      end

end

>> outer_function(2,3)
ans =
     5

For more, see here: http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/nested-functions.html

[Walter Roberson]

Note: this strategy cannot be used to access a variable which exists in the caller function if the same variable name appears in an input or output position in the "function" declaration of the inner function.

Answer 2

[Walter Roberson]

evalin('caller', 'who') to find the list of variables, and further evalin('caller') to get each of the values.

[Anish]

I see what you are saying. Thanks!