If you want named parameters, I'd suggest using the first method. If you want to operate on data stored in a hash, pass a hash ref. I don't like the idea of using a hash reference to pass in named parameters because the calls will mostly have those ugly additional braces.

I think a better question might be, "when should I use named parameters?"

My thoughts on that are that they should only be used where the parameters in question set features of a fairly complex datatype. Some examples:

my $shape  = Box->new(length=>10, width=>5, height=>3); # might make s
+ense.
my $string = SuperString->new(text=>"foobar");          # probably doe
+sn't.
my $substr = mysubstr(Search=>"bigbigstring",For=>"big", Occurence=>2)
+; # UGLY!
[download]

I've actually seen interns, apparently far too impressed with CGI.pm, write code like the third example. Please don't.

-sauoq
"My two cents aren't worth a dime.";