then it should always return a "list", even in scalar context, i.e. if called in scalar context return the last value in its return expression.

I don't know how to not interpret that as "being a 'list' means that it will return the last value in a scalar context". And I don't think the scare quotes make that more clear or less misleading. And using that with "always return" makes it more confusing to me.

As for what is least surprising, I find that it depends completely on what the function does. Having scalar( caller()  ) be the same as ( caller )[-1] would make no sense and so would certainly be surprising. Returning the first item, returning a reference to an array, or returning a string that includes all of the items are three behaviors that I often find appropriate. Returning the last item is not something I choose often.

- tye        

In reply to Re^7: Returning undef: The point I would like Damian to reconsider ("list"?) by tye
in thread Returning undef: The point I would like Damian to reconsider by martin

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