Thanks, but again we are tripping over semantics. I get how autovivication works, etc. I am just wondering what has higher precedence in the interpreter.

So, using my original example . . . 

next LASTLOG unless exists $user_by_uid{$uid}->{$host};

[download]

. . . what does 'exists' receive? Has $user_by_uid{$uid} already been autovivified? Or does it get autovivified within the code for 'exists'? Or some intermediate phase (e.g. code that handles passing parameters to subroutines)? Where "code" refers to the code used to implement perl.

Update: Wanted to add that I apologize for any confusion. I just find it curious that in the process of testing if something exists something may be created. It seems very counter-intuitive (even if it does make sense in the broader context of dereferencing and autovivication).

And Happy New Year!!

In reply to Re^6: Why does exists cause autovivication? by Argel
in thread Why does exists cause autovivication? by Argel

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