How can I index a MATLAB array returned by a function without first assigning it to a local variable?

Question

For example, if I want to read the middle value from magic(5), I can do so like this:

M = magic(5);
value = M(3,3);

to get

Answer 1

Note that if you compare running times with the standard way (asign the result and then access entries), they are exactly the same.

subs=@(M,i,j) M(i,j);
>> for nit=1:10;tic;subs(magic(100),1:10,1:10);tlap(nit)=toc;end;mean(tlap)

ans =

0.0103

>> for nit=1:10,tic;M=magic(100); M(1:10,1:10);tlap(nit)=toc;end;mean(tlap)

ans =

0.0101

To my opinion, the bottom line is : MATLAB does not have pointers, you have to live with it.