$item = ($input{'item'}); #input passed in from form

$found=0;
open(FILE, "myfile.txt") || die("$!") #open for reading
while(<FILE>) { #while file is open
flock(FILE, 2); 
@line = split(/ /, $_); #split fields with single space
$itemDB = $line[0]; #assign 1st element from DB to $itemDB
if ($itemDB eq $item) {
&Sub1(); #call this sub if true
} else { #end if & start else
&Sub2(); #call this sub if false
} #end else
} #end if
} #end while
flock(FILE, 8); #unlock file
close(FILE); #close file

(html blah, blah)