: If the first argument is an axes handle, axescheck strips it from the argument list. It returns the handle in one variable ( ax ) and the remaining data in another ( args ).

axescheck is a perfect example of MATLAB’s "hidden" infrastructure—the code that makes the software feel intuitive and consistent. While you might not use it to solve a math problem, using it in your toolbox development marks the transition from a script writer to a software toolbuilder.

: If the first argument is not an axes handle (e.g., it's just your data

When you call [ax, args, nargs] = axescheck(varargin{:}) , the function performs a few critical tasks:

: Users expect to be able to pass an axes handle as the first argument.