# Provide an empty string as  the default value if the
 # menu item value isn't provided.
 my $menu_item =  param('menu_item')
               // '';


##</code><code>##

 # Provide an empty string as  the default value if the
 # menu item value isn't provided.
 my $menu_item = param('menu_item');
    $menu_item = '' unless defined $menu_item;

 # OR to be brief
 local $_; # As you enter the block

 $_ = param('menu_item');
 my $menu_item = defined() ? $_ : '';


##</code><code>##

 $menu_item = defined() ? $_ : '' for (param('menu_item');