atcroft and Zaxo have given you the correct answer. However, the answer may, itself, be confusing.

Perl, unlike most languages, has the concept of "context", which is exactly what it says. Every single Perl thing may behave differently if it is used in a different ways. There are four basic contexts.

  1. Scalar - using something as a value
  2. List - using something as part of a group
  3. Void - using something without caring about its return value (primarily used in determining how a function is used)
  4. String - using something as a string (primarily used as the key in a hash)

This means that, to learn how to use something, you need to know how it behaves in various contexts. :-)

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

Then there are Damian modules.... *sigh* ... that's not about being less-lazy -- that's about being on some really good drugs -- you know, there is no spoon. - flyingmoose

I shouldn't have to say this, but any code, unless otherwise stated, is untested

In reply to Re: perl equivalent to php array count function by dragonchild
in thread perl equivalent to php array count function by Anonymous Monk

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