how to script rectangular function in MATLAB

Which function should I use for a rectangular function in MATLAB?

Answer 1

[John D'Errico]

Define what a rect function is, since I find it difficult to read your mind. I'll guess it might be a unit rectangular pulse of some sort. Perhaps this:

https://mathworld.wolfram.com/RectangleFunction.html

In that case, a rect function is simple enough to create, as the difference of two heaviside functions.

help heaviside

 HEAVISIDE    Step function.
     HEAVISIDE(X) is 0 for X < 0 and 1 for X > 0.
     The value HEAVISIDE(0) is 0.5 by default. It
     can be changed to any value v by the call
     sympref('HeavisideAtOrigin', v).
 
     See also DIRAC.

    Documentation for heaviside
       doc heaviside

    Other uses of heaviside

       sym/heaviside

For example:

rect = @(x) heaviside(x + 0.5) - heaviside(x - 0.5);
fplot(rect,[-2,2])

I've defined it there to be consistent with what mathworld shows.