You may want to try no autovivification, though it seems to be XS, and has some performance caveats and exceptions listed.

You can also replace the built-in exists, or just write a special one for specific cases.

-QM
--
Quantum Mechanics: The dreams stuff is made of

In reply to Re: exists() for a hash child-key creates the parent key? Bug? by QM
in thread exists() for a hash child-key creates the parent key? Bug? by AnonymousPerl1

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