&log_action(\%args);
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In my mains code, I test for an error and then stuff the value into $args{err} (This is being done through a Net::SNMP function)

$args{err} = $s->error();
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Now, within the log_action subroutine, I pull in my hash reference

sub log_action {
  my $args = shift;
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And I test to see if there is was an error message

if ($args->{err}) {
  # do something...
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Is this a suitable method? I read through defined and exists and it seems as though

if (defined $args->{err}) {
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may be more appropriate. How does perl judge if (args->{err}) when neither is used?

And as a follow up question regarding whether defined or exists is the better to use... If there is no error returned via the Net::SNMP call, according to its documentation, it "returns an empty string". Please correct me if I am wrong, but this means that there will be a hash key present called $args{err} but there will be no value associated with it?

Thanks -c