The +() syntax is often confusing. Try either of the following: 
my $x = "this is a string";
my $y = (split ' ', $x)[-1];
print "$y\n";

######## OR ########

my $x = "this is a string";
print( (split ' ', $x)[-1], $/);

[download]

That way, you avoid the scalar-context hack that is +().

------
We are the carpenters and bricklayers of the Information Age.

The idea is a little like C++ templates, except not quite so brain-meltingly complicated. -- TheDamian, Exegesis 6

... strings and arrays will suffice. As they are easily available as native data types in any sane language, ... - blokhead, speaking on evolutionary algorithms

Please remember that I'm crufty and crochety. All opinions are purely mine and all code is untested, unless otherwise specified.

In reply to Re: Re: How can you split inside pop? by dragonchild
in thread How can you split inside pop? by mifflin

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