I don't use exists $hashtest{abc} and defined $hashtest{abc} because defined can handle undef. However, sometimes I do defined $hashtest{abc} and $hashtest{abc} because I want the false condition to be based on more than $hashtest{abc} being undef. I also want it to evaluate to false if it's an empty string or 0, in addition to undef. In that case because the second condition is not protected by defined I need to make sure that the key exists. TBH I don't remember the last time I even used exists.

To summarize: 

# generally pointless, I would not use the mere existence of the key t
+o mean anything; check it's value
if ( exists $hashtest{abc} and defined $hashtest{abc} ) {
  print qq{This is worthless IMO.\n};
}

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Rather just do this if undef is taken as does not exist. 
if (defined $hashtest{abc}) {
  print qq{Better than 'exists'; check for the value being undef or no
+t undef.\n};
}

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And if I want to check the value, something like: 
if (defined $hashtest{abc} and $hashtest{abc}) {
  print qq{Also, better than 'exists' and when I want to make sure the
+ value is not "falsey"\n};
}

[download]

In reply to Re: Are defined or // garantee not to autovivify? by perlfan
in thread Are defined or // garantee not to autovivify? by NisSam

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