matlab-read-documentation

Fetch and parse official MathWorks documentation to verify MATLAB function syntax and workflows.

995|122|Updated Apr 3, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/matlab/matlab-agentic-toolkit --skill matlab-read-documentation
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: matlab-read-documentation
Source: https://github.com/matlab/matlab-agentic-toolkit/tree/main/skills-catalog/matlab-core/matlab-read-documentation
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/matlab/matlab-agentic-toolkit --skill matlab-read-documentation

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

AI agents often hallucinate MATLAB toolbox functions, guess outdated syntax, or waste calls on wrong documentation URLs. This Skill provides a systematic four-pass strategy to retrieve accurate, release-specific information from official MathWorks documentation.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Four-Pass Lookup Strategy: Progress from local function catalogs, to help output, to user guide pages, to reference pages, stopping as soon as the answer is found.
  • Automated Fetch Scripts: MATLAB helper functions handle URL discovery, HTML parsing, and content extraction via webread, including release notes and deprecation lookups.
  • Use Case: When asked how to configure a Simulink simulation programmatically, the agent discovers the correct functions from the local catalog, checks help for syntax, then fetches the ug/ workflow page and slref/ reference pages to get exact argument names and valid values.

Quick Start

Ask the agent to look up the correct syntax and workflow for a MATLAB or Simulink function using the official MathWorks documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions about matlab-read-documentation

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I look up MATLAB function syntax from official documentation?

Start with the local `help functionName` command, which is fastest and matches your installed version. If help output is incomplete, fetch the function's reference page from MathWorks documentation using the provided fetch scripts.

How do I find which MATLAB functions exist for a product or workflow?

Run `get_local_function_list('product', 'keyword')` to read the categorized function list from your local MATLAB installation. This works offline and returns names, purposes, and categories without guessing.

Does this documentation lookup work for a specific MATLAB release?

Yes, all documentation URLs are versioned under /help/releases/R20XXx/. The fetch_product_index script auto-detects your installed release, and you can pass a release argument like "R2024b" to target a different version.

What should I do when a MathWorks documentation URL returns 404?

Never guess URLs. Go up one level to the section or product index and read the actual page slugs from the fetched content using extract_page_slugs, since URL structures vary by product.

When is the local help command not enough for MATLAB questions?

Fetch the web reference page when you need name-value arguments from recent releases, full property enumerations, or valid enum values. Fetch user guide pages when you need workflow context showing which functions to call in what order.