I have to ask. Isn't $bill = defined($bill) || 'bill'; the same as the example given above? IIRC, defined returns the scalar value of the expression being tested, which of course is undef when it is not defined. (For those who have not had reason to use it, this is similar to how delete returns the value of the element being deleted, including undef if that was the value or if the element did not exist.)

Update: DOH!!!! I most certainly did NOT recall correctly! After looking at that again it is obvious that it has to return a Boolean "true" in the case of '0' or ''. The comment regarding delete is correct, but no longer applies in this context. :(

It helps to remember that the primary goal is to drain the swamp even when you are hip-deep in alligators.

In reply to Re^3: Make $^V and "my" implicit by boftx
in thread Make $^V and "my" implicit by gunzip

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