> there are no lists in scalar context

This is - as usual - a definition conflict!

As I already pointed out there are (at least) two widespread interpretations of what "LIST" mean:

  • a literal comma separated sequence of expressions visible in source code
  • the realization for passing theses values at run time through an internal stack

    Take this example code:

     perl -e 'print scalar ($a++,"b","c"), $a'

    Following your explanation one might think that $a should never be incremented, since the "list" (the stack) is never built!

    But actually one gets c1 as output, since the "list" (the sequence) is evaluated step by step

    Cheers Rolf

    UPDATE: shortened post

    In reply to Re^3: difference between array and list in perl by LanX
    in thread difference between array and list in perl by manishrathi

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