No, use the proper return type for the proper function type. If you return an empty list for false, then you'll be tripped up by something as simple as: 

my %hash= (
    this => GetThis(),
    foo  => 'bar',
    baz  => 'biff',
);
# Which results in:
#    $hash{this} eq "foo"
#    ! exists $hash{foo}
#    $hash{bar} eq 'baz'
#    ! exists $hash{baz}
#    exists $hash{biff}

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If your function returns lists, then an empty list is likely the correct thing to return for "false". If your function never returns lists, then I'd have it return a false scalar value not an empty list.

BTW, my favorite false value is !1 which is a lot like '' except that it won't give a warning if used in a numeric context. (It is what Perl's own functions return for "false but not undefined".)

                - tye

In reply to Re^4: Condensing code...golfing with push and return (mixed blessing) by tye
in thread Condensing code...golfing with push and return by seaver

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