Scalar assignment in scalar context returns its LHS (as an lvalue), as documented here.

It's very very common to take advantage of this. 

while (defined( $_ = <> )) {
   ...
}

[download]
my $sock = IO::Socket::INET->new(...)
   or die(...);

[download]
( my $copy = $str ) =~ s/\\/\\\\/g;

[download]

etc.

In reply to Re: If 6 Was 9 by ikegami
in thread If 6 Was 9 by Anonymous Monk

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