:orphan:
# DMCreateMatrix
Gets an empty matrix for a `DM` that is most commonly used to store the Jacobian of a discrete PDE operator. 
## Synopsis
```
#include "petscdm.h"          
#include "petscdmlabel.h"     
#include "petscds.h"     
PetscErrorCode DMCreateMatrix(DM dm, Mat *mat)
```
Collective


## Input Parameter

- ***dm -*** the `DM` object



## Output Parameter

- ***mat -*** the empty Jacobian



## Options Database Key

- ***-dm_preallocate_only -*** Only preallocate the matrix for `DMCreateMatrix()` and `DMCreateMassMatrix()`, but do not fill it with zeros





## Notes
This properly preallocates the number of nonzeros in the sparse matrix so you
do not need to do it yourself.

By default it also sets the nonzero structure and puts in the zero entries. To prevent setting
the nonzero pattern call `DMSetMatrixPreallocateOnly()`

For `DMDA`, when you call `MatView()` on this matrix it is displayed using the global natural ordering, NOT in the ordering used
internally by PETSc.

For `DMDA`, in general it is easiest to use `MatSetValuesStencil()` or `MatSetValuesLocal()` to put values into the matrix because
`MatSetValues()` requires the indices for the global numbering for the `DMDA` which is complic`ated to compute


## See Also
 [](ch_dmbase), `DM`, `DMDestroy()`, `DMView()`, `DMCreateGlobalVector()`, `DMCreateInterpolation()`, `DMSetMatType()`, `DMCreateMassMatrix()`

## Level
beginner

## Location
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/interface/dm.c.html#DMCreateMatrix">src/dm/interface/dm.c</A>

## Examples
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex1.c.html">src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex1.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex2.c.html">src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex2.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex3.c.html">src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex3.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex4.c.html">src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex4.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex8.c.html">src/dm/impls/stag/tutorials/ex8.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/tutorials/ex14.c.html">src/dm/tutorials/ex14.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex42.c.html">src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex42.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex43.c.html">src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex43.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex44f.F90.html">src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex44f.F90</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex46.c.html">src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex46.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex49.c.html">src/ksp/ksp/tutorials/ex49.c</A><BR>

## Implementations

<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/composite/packm.c.html#DMCreateMatrix_Composite">DMCreateMatrix_Composite in src/dm/impls/composite/packm.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/da/fdda.c.html#DMCreateMatrix_DA">DMCreateMatrix_DA in src/dm/impls/da/fdda.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/forest/p4est/pforest.h.html#DMCreateMatrix_pforest">DMCreateMatrix_pforest in src/dm/impls/forest/p4est/pforest.h</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/moab/dmmbmat.cxx.html#DMCreateMatrix_Moab">DMCreateMatrix_Moab in src/dm/impls/moab/dmmbmat.cxx</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/network/network.c.html#DMCreateMatrix_Network">DMCreateMatrix_Network in src/dm/impls/network/network.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/plex/plex.c.html#DMCreateMatrix_Plex">DMCreateMatrix_Plex in src/dm/impls/plex/plex.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/redundant/dmredundant.c.html#DMCreateMatrix_Redundant">DMCreateMatrix_Redundant in src/dm/impls/redundant/dmredundant.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/shell/dmshell.c.html#DMCreateMatrix_Shell">DMCreateMatrix_Shell in src/dm/impls/shell/dmshell.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/sliced/sliced.c.html#DMCreateMatrix_Sliced">DMCreateMatrix_Sliced in src/dm/impls/sliced/sliced.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/stag/stag.c.html#DMCreateMatrix_Stag">DMCreateMatrix_Stag in src/dm/impls/stag/stag.c</A><BR>
<A HREF="PETSC_DOC_OUT_ROOT_PLACEHOLDER/src/dm/impls/swarm/swarm.c.html#DMCreateMatrix_Swarm">DMCreateMatrix_Swarm in src/dm/impls/swarm/swarm.c</A><BR>


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