Signals
Configure and display signal properties
Signals transmit data between two blocks in a simulation. The data could be the calculated output of a block, or simply a message. The value of signals are calculated at all points during the simulation time. You can display the signal data and properties during and after simulation, see the real-time values on a block diagram, or you can log the values as variables in the workspace. Also, you can export the signals to a file or to a workspace to investigate further.
You can control the mathematical behavior of a model by specifying signal characteristics such as numeric data type, initial value, and value range. For more information, see Signal Basics.
Blocks
Functions
Objects
sltrace.Graph | Signal path traced using sltrace function (Since R2021b) |
Tools
Signal Properties | View and edit signal properties |
Instrumentation Properties | View and edit logging and visualization properties for logged signal |
Property Inspector | Edit parameters and properties for any Simulink model element |
Model Data Editor | Inspect and edit data items (signals, parameters, and states) in a table that you can sort, group, and filter |
Component Interface View | Display component interfaces to trace port connections and author ports |
Model Settings
Topics
Get Started with Signals
- Signal Basics
Create, configure, identify, and test signals. - Signal Types
Learn about different types of signals, such as control signals and composite signals. - Signal Groups
Test or debug models by creating interchangeable groups of signal data.
Signal Properties
- Investigate Signal Values
Initialize, access, and view the values that signals have during a simulation run. - Specify Signal Ranges
Specify the minimum and maximum value that a signal can attain during simulation. Fully specify your design and optimize data types and the generated code by specifying the minimum and maximum value that a signal can attain during simulation. - Determine Signal Dimensions
Inspect and control signal dimensionality. - How Simulink Propagates Signal Properties in a Model
Inspect how Simulink® propagates signal properties in a model. - Initialize Signals and Discrete States
Some systems contain signals and states whose initial values you must specify, for example, the starting position and velocity of a bouncing ball. - Configure Signals as Test Points
Use test points to exclude signal lines from optimizations which enables you to access the simulation data. - Specify Common Set of Signal Properties as Value Type
Create a reusable value type for common signal properties, such as the application-specific signal properties of wind velocity. (Since R2021b)
Display Signal Properties
- Highlight Signal Sources and Destinations
Trace a signal to its source or destination while debugging or exploring a model. - View Signal Values Using Port Value Labels
View signal values in the block diagram during simulation to understand, analyze, and debug your model. - Display Signal Attributes
Improve model readability by displaying signal attributes, such as data types and dimensions, in the block diagram. - Signal Label Propagation
Name a signal to identify and access it more easily. Take advantage of signal label propagation to reduce the effort of naming a signal that crosses system boundaries. - Trace Connections and Author Ports Using Component Interface View
Display component interfaces to trace port connections and author ports.
Variable-Size Signals
- Variable-Size Signal Basics
Create a variable-size signal whose size and values can change during a simulation. - Inspect Variable-Size Signals on Simulink Models
Inspect example models that show how to use variable-size signals. - Unbounded Variable-Size Signals
Model unknown size data using dynamic arrays.