For most purposes, the UNIVERSAL::can method will serve:

if (my $code = main->can($key)) { &$code() };

If you don't mind turning off strict 'refs', there's the ever-popular defined:

&$key() if defined &$key;

edited: to make the first example strict-safe. Thanks, tinita.

    -- Chip Salzenberg, Free-Floating Agent of Chaos

In reply to Re: Subroutines reference from data by chip
in thread Subroutines reference from data by Syrkres

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