For the best of both worlds, use both: 

my $contents= do { local($/); join '', <INPUT> };

[download]
should work quickly for file handles that pay attention to $/ and work about as quickly as possible for those that don't.

        - tye (but my friends call me "Tye")

In reply to (tye)Re3: Slurp a file by tye
in thread Slurp a file by Anonymous Monk

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