MatrixForm [list]
prints with the elements of list arranged in a regular array.
MatrixForm
MatrixForm [list]
prints with the elements of list arranged in a regular array.
Details and Options
- In StandardForm the array is shown enclosed in parentheses.
- MatrixForm prints a single‐level list in a column. It prints a two‐level list in standard matrix form. More deeply nested lists are by default printed with successive dimensions alternating between rows and columns.
- Elements in each column are by default centered.
- MatrixForm prints SparseArray objects like the corresponding ordinary lists. »
- MatrixForm has the same options as TableForm .
- The typeset form of MatrixForm [expr] is interpreted the same as expr when used in input. »
- When an input evaluates to MatrixForm [expr], MatrixForm does not appear in the output. »
List of all options
Examples
open all close allBasic Examples (3)
Show the matrix form of a matrix:
Show the matrix form of a SparseArray :
Show vector, matrix, and general arrays in matrix form:
Scope (3)
Matrices of numbers and formulas:
A matrix of lists:
Use options to control the layout directions:
Generalizations & Extensions (2)
Format a SparseArray object in matrix form:
Format a SymmetrizedArray object in matrix form:
Options (7)
TableAlignments (3)
Specify the alignment of columns:
Align columns on a decimal point or any character:
Set alignments for successive dimensions:
TableDepth (1)
By default, all dimensions are formatted:
Only use matrix formatting for the outermost dimension:
TableDirections (1)
By default, the outermost dimension is a column:
Format the first dimension as a row instead:
TableHeadings (1)
Specify headings for rows:
Specify headings for columns:
Specify headings for rows and columns:
TableSpacing (1)
The default automatic spacing:
Explicitly specify the spacing between rows and between columns:
Applications (4)
Display special matrices with matrix formatting:
Matrices from a matrix decomposition:
Formula for a matrix multiplication:
Display a block matrix as a matrix of matrices:
The array flattened to a matrix:
Properties & Relations (7)
MatrixForm formats arrays using standard matrix formatting:
TableForm formats arrays in a tabular form:
Grid formats two-dimensional arrays as a grid:
Use MatrixPlot to visualize the structure of large matrices:
Use ArrayPlot to visualize the structure of large discrete matrices:
Use Style to affect the display of MatrixForm :
Use any number form such as ScientificForm or BaseForm to affect the display of numbers:
The typeset form of MatrixForm [expr] is interpreted the same as expr when used in input:
Copy the output and paste it into an input cell. The (
When an input evaluates to MatrixForm [expr], MatrixForm does not appear in the output:
Out is assigned the value {{1,2},{3,4}}, not MatrixForm [{{1,2},{3,4}}]:
Possible Issues (1)
Even when an output omits MatrixForm from the top level, it is not stripped from subexpressions:
The output does not have MatrixForm in it:
However, the variable e does have MatrixForm in it, which may affect subsequent evaluations:
The determinant is not evaluated due to the intervening MatrixForm :
Assign variables first and then apply MatrixForm to the result to maintain computability:
See Also
Tech Notes
Related Guides
Related Workflows
- Create a Matrix
History
Introduced in 1988 (1.0) | Updated in 1996 (3.0) ▪ 2003 (5.0)
Text
Wolfram Research (1988), MatrixForm, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/MatrixForm.html (updated 2003).
CMS
Wolfram Language. 1988. "MatrixForm." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2003. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/MatrixForm.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (1988). MatrixForm. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/MatrixForm.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_matrixform, author="Wolfram Research", title="{MatrixForm}", year="2003", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/MatrixForm.html}", note=[Accessed: 17-November-2025]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_matrixform, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={MatrixForm}, year={2003}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/MatrixForm.html}, note=[Accessed: 17-November-2025]}