title: How do I make an "empty" anonymous function in MATLAB?
body: <p>I use anonymous functions for diagnostic printing when debugging in MATLAB. E.g.,</p>
  
  <pre><code>debug_disp = @(str) disp(str);
  debug_disp('Something is up.')
  ...
  debug_disp = @(str) disp([]);
  % diagnostics are now hidden
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Using <code>disp([])</code> as a "gobble" seems a bit dirty to me; is there a better option? The obvious (?) method doesn't work:</p>
  
  <pre><code>debug_disp = @(str) ;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This could, I think, be useful for other functional language applications, not just diagnostic printing.</p>