Mat File Versions

Starting with mat file version 4 there are several subsequent versions of mat files that support an increasing set of features.

Mat file versions. The naming of the mat file format versions is somewhat confusing. Version 7 3 of mat files uses hdf5 format this format has a significant storage overhead to describe the contents of the file especially so for complex nested cellarrays and structures. By default all save operations create version 7 mat files. Moreover the maximum variable size supported by the mat version 5 file format is 2 31 bytes 6.

Its main advantage over previous versions of mat files is that it allows storing data larger than 2gb on 64 bit systems. By default all save operations create version 7 mat files. But this is no longer supported. The only exception to this is when you create new mat files using the matfile function.

Unfortunately v7 3 appears to have some form of compression algorithm embedded saving and loading these v7 3 mat files istaking significant time. For example data compression and unicode support. The mathworks matlab program uses mat files too but as a container for holding data like functions and variables. The only exception to this is when you create new mat files using the matfile function.

Starting with mat file version 4 there are several subsequent versions of mat files that support an increasing set of features. A file with the mat file extension is most likely a microsoft access table shortcut file that s used to quickly open a table without having to first open the ms access program. Hdf5 based mat file support matlab 7 4 r2007a 17 1 5 0 07 2007 march 1 2007 new bsxfun function to apply element by element binary operation with singleton expansion enabled. New internal format for p code.

Currently only the uncompressed mat version 5 file format 6 is supported that is compressed mat files cannot be written only read. License server support for windows vista. Matlab 7 5 r2007b 18 1 6 0 september 1 2007 last release for windows 2000 and powerpc mac. Matlab releases r2006b and later all support all mat file versions.

Matlab releases r2006b and later all support all mat file versions.