s/^\s+//g, s/\s+$//g for $value; #### sub trim { local $_ = @_ ? $_[0] : $_; s/^\s+//g; s/\s+$//g; $_ } $trimmed = trim($untrimmed); $trimmed = trim; # Trims $_ by default. @trimmed = map trim, @untrimmed; # Trim a whole list. (readable) push(@trimmed, trim) for @untrimmed; # Trim a whole list. (efficient)