# Bad code. Don't copy
while(<>) {
    /^(\w+?)/;
    my($val)=$1;
    # do something with $val.
}

##</code><code>##

while(<>) {
    my($val);
    if(/^(\w+?)/) {
        ($val) = $1;
    } else {
        # Handle failed regex.
    }

    # Do something with $val.
}