Filehandles are global, irrespective of the scope in which they are referenced. To say the filehandle closes when the reference count reaches zero is incorrect.

oh well, I can't retract what I know to be true!

No, because that would involve learning something? 

use strict;
use warnings;

if (1) {   
   local *FH;
   my $fh = \*FH;
   open $fh, 'ls /usr |';
}

$_ = <FH>;

warn $_;
__END__
ls: write error
readline() on unopened filehandle FH at - line 10.
Use of uninitialized value $_ in warn at - line 12.
Warning: something's wrong at - line 12.

[download]

Or, simpler demonstration: 

use strict;
use warnings;

{
    open my $fh, 'ls /usr |';
}
warn "End\n";
__END__
ls: write error
End

[download]

Note how bin/ls complains before the script exits because my $fh is closed when the scope is left, before warn is called.

- tye        

In reply to Re^3: Scoping question - will file handle be closed? ("global") by tye
in thread Scoping question - will file handle be closed? by Monk::Thomas

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