DB<234> sub tst{ my $href=shift; my @missing = grep { ! exists $href->{$_} } qw/name unit quantity/; print "Elements missing: @missing" if @missing; } DB<235> tst({name=>1,bla=>2,unit=>3,quantity=>4}) DB<236> tst({name=>1,bla=>2,unit=>3}) Elements missing: quantity