Maybe I am missing something here. Why should undef from a hash not overwrite a defined value? When I code something like
$value = $empty_hash{empty_value};
and $empty_hash{empty_value} has not been defined, $value will certainly get assigned undef since undef is the return value of the attemped hash reference. Or is it that a return value from a hash reference getting assigned is conditional upon the hash value being defined?
If I am wrong, please let me know because I have always thought otherwise.
You're right, that's exactly what happens. I thought one possible explanation of your previous response might lead people to think otherwise, though I don't really know why anymore. I apologize for the confusion.