print a hash reference

vedas has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I'm still learning perl. It trying to pull IPs from a infoblox system using their API. According to their API Documentation the "get" method:

"Return an array in list context containing all matching objects. For failures and objects not found, it returns an empty array in list context and undefined in scalar context. When an operation fails, the error code and error message are reported in the status_code() and status_detail() attributes."

So, I'm expecting to get an array of objects (IPs) back after call the get method, however this is not what I am getting. Below is the relevant code and output

CODE
:
:
:
my @retrieved_objs = $session->get(
     object => "Infoblox::DNS::Record::A",
     name   => "nsx10cs.cnti.com"  );


print "retrieved_objs[0]: " . $retrieved_objs[0] . "\n";
print "retrieved_objs[1]: " .  $retrieved_objs[1] . "\n";

:
:
:
[download]

OUTPUT
Infoblox::DNS::Record::A=HASH(0x55d0d1517aa0)
retrieved_objs[0]: Infoblox::DNS::Record::A=HASH(0x55d0d1517aa0)
retrieved_objs[1]:
[download]

It appears to be giving the memory reference to hash, I was expecting ip objects. Any one have any thoughts on where I'm going wrong?

Comment on print a hash reference Select or Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: print a hash reference by haukex (Archbishop) on Jan 10, 2019 at 19:46 UTC
Just to clarify this part in addition to trippledubs's answer: It appears to be giving the memory reference to hash, I was expecting ip objects. The output "`Infoblox::DNS::Record::A=HASH(0x55d0d1517aa0)`" tells you that it is in fact an object of type `Infoblox::DNS::Record::A`, and it happens to be implemented as a hash internally, hence the `HASH(0x...)` part - but normally you shouldn't try to use it as a hash reference, because this would probably break the object's encapsulation. This kind of output is the default behavior when you try to use a Perl object as a string. Some Perl objects support "overloaded stringification", which means that when you try to use them as a string, they will return a useful string, but `Infoblox::DNS::Record::A` apparently doesn't implement that, which is why you have to use the methods on the object to get its properties.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: print a hash reference by trippledubs (Deacon) on Jan 10, 2019 at 19:22 UTC
You do have an array of objects, but an object is not an IP. @retrieved_objs is a list of Infoblox::DNS::Record::A objects. Infoblox::DNS::Record::A provides you some methods to do what you want. Try `print $_->ipv4addr(),"\n" for (@retrieved_objs);` [download]	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: print a hash reference by vedas (Novice) on Jan 10, 2019 at 22:43 UTC
Thanks guys, I think I understand what is going on now. I appreciate your assistance.	[reply]