BEGIN just has to enclose the stuff you want executed after the script is compiled(update which is false, as tye points out), but before the rest of it starts executing. The block should contain only that code that should execute first.

Perl compiles the script into what's called 'bytecode', then it executes that bytecode. So it's unlike a pure interpreted language which handles things line-by-line.

Since the whole script is compiled before anything is executed (update oops, this is false, but the next sentence isn't, which is sufficient to answer the question), BEGIN can appear anywhere in your source code, but will be executed before anything else in the script is. Of course it's good practice to put it up at the top of the script. to avoid confusing anyone that has to maintain the code!

In reply to Re: CGI::Carp use of BEGIN block to log errors (newbie question) by arturo
in thread CGI::Carp use of BEGIN block to log errors (newbie question) by lauragarcia

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