How to robustly parse string into output arguments, function handle and input arguments

In a textbox in a GUI, a user can enter a function that they wish to execute. For example,

[ out1, out2 ] = name_of_a_function(in1, in2, in3);

When submitted, this is communicated to the backend as the string

"[ out1, out2 ] = name_of_a_function(in1, in2, in3);"

Is there a robust way to decompose this string into the names of output arguments, function handle and input arguments taking into account that users can use any valid Matlab syntax and any number of output and input arguments, perhaps providing input arguments directly as vectors, matrices or cell arrays instead of using variable names?

[Stephen23]

"Is there a robust way to decompose this string..."

Not really. Read this discussion, including all of the comments:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/580671-can-a-function-known-whether-which-specific-output-is-ignored-tilde-operator

Answer 1

[Chunru]

It will be a challenging task. Hope the following can help

t =mtree('[ out1, out2 ] = name_of_a_function(in1, in2, in3);')

t =   mtree (complete: 13 nodes)

dumptree(t)

  1  *<root>:  EXPR:   1/16 
  2     *Arg:  EQUALS:   1/16 
  3        *Left:  LB:   1/01 
  4           *Arg:  ID:   1/03  (out1)
  5           >Next:  ID:   1/09  (out2)
  6        *Right:  CALL:   1/36 
  7           *Left:  ID:   1/18  (name_of_a_function)
  8           *Right:  CALL:   1/37 
  9              *Left:  ID:   1/37  (in1)
 10           >Next:  CALL:   1/42 
 11              *Left:  ID:   1/42  (in2)
 12           >Next:  CALL:   1/47 
 13              *Left:  ID:   1/47  (in3)