If you can't have a list in a scalar context, how can you have the assignment of a list in scalar context?
Because any operator can be scalar context; it's the context that determines its context, not their operands. Here are a few examples of operators in scalar context: 
scalar ($a + $b);     # Addition
scalar (($a) x $b);   # Repetition
scalar ($a =~ $b);    # Matching
scalar ($a .. $b);    # Range/FlipFlop
scalar ($a = $b);     # Scalar assignment
scalar (($a) = ($b)); # List assignment

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Here are some examples of operators in list context: 
say ($a + $b);        # Addition
say (($a) x $b);      # Repetition
say ($a =~ $b);       # Matching
say ($a .. $b);       # Range/Flipflop
say ($a = $b);        # Scalar assignment
say (($a) = ($b));    # List assignment

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One should realise that 'scalar assignment' and 'list assignment' are two different operators (sassign and aassign in pp_hot.c). It's the LHS of the '=' that determines which operator it is (this is unlike the '..' operator where it's the context that determines whether it's the range or the flipflop operator). The side-effects (that is, the actual assignment) of both sassign and aassign are independent of the context. However, the return value of the aassign operator is context dependent. In scalar context, it returns the number of elements appearing on its RHS.

In reply to Re^9: If you believe in Lists in Scalar Context, Clap your Hands by JavaFan
in thread If you believe in Lists in Scalar Context, Clap your Hands by gone2015

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