If the third argument is not supplied,

d = cconv(a,b);

will return the result of the linear convolution of a and b, which is equal to the circular
convolution of a and bafter they have been padded with n-1 zeroes each. For more on the differences
between these operations, please refer to this article.

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/143544-circular-convolution-why-the-third-
argument-what-is-the-use
http://www.mathworks.com/help/signal/ug/linear-and-circular-convolution.html