in reply to Assigning default values to function arguments which may be “empty”

You can also used defined() directly:

use warnings;
use strict;

print f() ."\n";
print f('hi') ."\n";

sub f {
    my $arg = defined $_[0] ? shift : 'default';
}

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output:

default
hi

[download]

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^2: Assigning default values to function arguments which may be �empty�
by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Aug 17, 2016 at 20:15 UTC

    That doesn't cover his case for the empty string to also be defaulted; so:

    sub f {
    my $arg = defined $_[0] && length $_[0] ? shift : 'default';
}

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    With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
    Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
    "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority". I knew I was on the right track :)
    In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
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[d/l]

      I'm experimenting with some variations based on ideas here and elsewhere (BTW, thanks for being so much friendlier than codereview.stackexchange.com! OMG, they are tightly wound).

      Thanks, again!
[reply]

      d'oh! Yeah, I completely missed the whole empty thing.

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[d/l]

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