In addition to converting from one matrix precision to another, you can convert between matrix shapes. Automatic type conversion can be used to convert any matrix shape to a general matrix of the same precision. Furthermore, symmetric banded, hermitian banded, and tridiagonal matrices can be converted automatically to banded matrices.

You can convert matrices in the opposite direction, as you did precisions, by using explicit functions. For example, the function toSymMat() extracts the symmetric part of a matrix. This function is often used in situations where you have a general matrix that you know is symmetric and you want to recognize this explicitly.