In numpy
you can choose between Fortran-contiguous
(along the column, like in Matlab) and C-contiguous
(along the row, which is the default in numpy) order, passing the order
argument when you create an array, so you have more flexibility.
As @user2357112 already said, for a 1xN or Nx1 array it does not matter, but for a MXN array it does matter and you should be aware of that.