• complex calculations
• statistical analysis
• time series analysis
• solve systems of linear equations
• solve systems of differential equations
• plot in 2 and 3 dimensions in a variety of formats
• perform symbolic mathematical analysis
• image analysis
• data manipulation
• data digitization

• interactively
• with Matlab scripts ("m" files)
• with CShell scripts (e.g., as part of a data processing flow)
• with external C and Fortran programs

Matlab graphics can be exported to other common graphics programs for further editing and/or printing.

In fact, Matlab could easily take the place of most scientific programming languages, like C and Fortran, for most scientific computations.