| Major Features | Ch | MATLAB | Mathematica |
| Interpretive execution of programs | X | X | X |
| Interactive computing in command mode | X | X | X |
| Array as first-class object | X | X | X |
| Variable length arrays | X | X | X |
| Adjustable array bounds | X | X | X |
| Elementary mathematical functions | X | X | X |
|
Matrix operations and functions | X | X | X |
| Array operations and functions | X | X | X |
| Advanced numerical analysis functions | X | X | X |
| 2D/3D plotting | X | X | X |
| 2D/3D graphics | X | X | X |
| Animation | X | X | X |
| Graphical user interface (GUI) | X | X | X |
| IEEE floating-point arithmetic | X | X | X |
| Complex numbers | X | X | X |
| Real Infinity | X | X | |
| Real Not-a-Number | X | X | |
| Complex Infinity | X | | X |
| Complex Not-a-Number | X | | X |
| C LAPACK for linear alegbra | X | | |
| Classes | X | X | |
| Recursive functions | X | X | X |
| Nested functions | X | | X |
| Symbolic computing | | | X |
| Extended precision | | | X |
| Wide characters | X | | X |
| String type for handling text | X | | X |
| Shell programming | X | | X |
| Portable command shell | X | | |
| Typed language | X | | |
| Embeddable in other applications | X | | |
| Calling exising C/C++ code | X | X | X |
| Calling Java | X | X | X |
| Safe mode for secure computing | X | | |
| Safe applets for internet computing | X | | |
| CGI for Web development | X | | |
| Direct support of industry standards |
| C90 | X | | |
| All numerical features in C99 | X | | |
| Classes in C++ | X | | |
| POSIX | X | | |
| TCP/IP Socket/Winsock | X | | |
| Win32 APIs | X | | |
| X/Motif | X | | |
| OpenGL | X | | |
| GTK+ | X | | |
ODBC | X | | |