Update: In deference to Arien's concerns. 

if ( do{ local$"=''; @array1 == @array2 and "@array1" eq "@array2"} ) 
+{ 
    print 'They are the same', $/; 
}

[download]

Which of course will also break if you have two arrays, 

my @a = ( 'onetwo','', 'three');
my @b = ( 'one', 'two', 'three' );

[download]

And as with any shortcuts, you need to know your data before you apply them. If your not comforable with that, don't use it.

Update more:

I'll spell it out for those unable or unwilling to make the mental leap for themselves.

If your data is wholey numeric, then use $"=<any non-numeric-char>.

If your data consists of wholey alpha data use a non-alpha char.

If your data consists of mixed alpha-numeric then use a non-alpha-numeric.

If your data can contain any char in the range 32-127, cosider using a control character (eg."\cA").

If your data can contain any 7-bit char, use an 8-bit char. 128-255.

If there is simply no character that your data does not contain, then you need to compare element-by-element. These cases are very rare. In almost all normal sets of data it is possible to find a single char that you can get away with using, and eq testing of the stringyfied arrays is a simple, and efficient way of performing this kind of test on small datasets.

In reply to Re: Comparing arrays by BrowserUk
in thread Comparing arrays by hotshot

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