Matlab is a software. As users, we have no way of knowing how it works. We can only read the official manual. Therefore, I will only discuss how to use MATLAB?? to write  on behalf of others.
1) borrow features of other languages, mainly the modularity of Fortran and the object concept in C++;
2) want to write a simple and elegant program to go through such a cycle:read books -> learn knowledge to use your own project- bbb > read other people's code and find the highlights -> modify your own code -> read ...
As an engineering student, modeling yourself is a given. For example, we often tinker with various CFD models. MATLAB provides an almost block-like language with various ready-made mathematical functions, but basing blocks into castles takes a bit of learning, doesn't it? For us, that knowledge is the Fortran modular language. A little off-topic, I guess. The owner can look for ready-made models if he is interested.