In this instance, the "\*" basically returns a pointer to the filehandle. Something to do with typeglobs, an area I haven't explored much (yet). The asterisk indicates the typeglob (I believe), and the backslash performs it's usual "return-a-reference-to-this" function.
A typeglob is basically a complete symbol table entry, but you can use them (and references to them) like file handles.
Hot Pastrami
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\* is called a typeglob... if you are a beginner, this is way advanced for you to understand..
in some words, this is a reference (and here a reference to a filehandle)
the * is the typeglob.
and the \ is to dereference it.
a typeglob references anything from a $scalar, to an @array on to a FILEHANDLE | [reply] |
Ummm...
* is a typeglob, which means in a way "Everything named ...".
So *foo is everything named foo: $foo,@foo,%foo,&foo,the fh foo, and the format foo,(I'm sure I missed something,,but don't know what.)
\*foo is a reference to the typeglob.
A typeglob or a ref to it, can be used as an "indirect filehandle".
Typeglobs are also used to create aliases:
*foo=*bar; #Now everything named bar is also named foo
*fooo=\$barr #now $fooo is an alias to $barr
And to create a refernce using the *foo{THING} thing which is explained in perlref(As the 7th way to create a reference).
For more about typeglobs, read perldata.
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