MATLAB is a high level program which is used to perform tasks which are either computationally difficult of impossible to perform in other languages like C, C++, Visual Basic. MATLAB was developed by math works industries and was mainly developed for the computation of matrices. Since matrices are now used in all the fields today, it has lead to the success of the software. Today no industry can perform without the help of the software
Basically MATLAB is a high level computing program with an interactive environment for developing algorithms related to data analysis, numeric computations and even digital image processing. One of the most interesting ideas MATLAB has able to change the view of analysis is the digital image processing and digital signal processing as both are represented by matrix and vectors MATLAB became the best software for analysis of the image and signals.
This image processing and signal processing are one of the most important fields which are used in a wide range of applications from military and defense systems to astronomy and thanks to MATLAB it has become so much easier to study and analyze those fields.
The beauty of MATLAB is that it needs just a pc with windows XP or linux with the basic version installed and one can able to enjoy the software.