(update) Here's a simple example that should help you with the idea: perl -le "print eval(print 1+1)" produces:

2      <-- printed within the eval()
1      <-- printed outside the eval()
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(further update)When I have a question like this, I just try it: perl -le "$i=5;print $i,eval('$i++;print $i;');print $i" produces:

6      <-- printed outside the eval(), but AFTER it has run so $i has 
+been incremented
61      <-- 6 printed within the eval(), 1 printed outside
6      <-- printed in the next statement outside the eval()
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Conclusion: eval() operates within the context of the host program.

What I am writing is a small indexing program for my website. Sort of similar to the function of Everything, but a little simpler. What I want is when someone pulls up "index.pl?webpage=main_page" that page is a CGI script, and I want to run, and have it display its output.

I think I know how to do,a nd I was going to use eval -- instead of require. But does eval use variables that have already been declared before the eval has been called.

Sorry this is a lot to ask, but you asked to explain it... Oh yeah Thanks...

I am the first overweight, very tall munchkin... be very amazed.

Any eval statement does its execution in the current context and scope. Any variables that are available to code in the current scope are also available to code you eval, and any changes to those variables done in your eval block persist after it's over.

my $code = '$a = 2;';   # $a is meaningless here; it's just a string
sub hi {
   my $a = 1;

   eval $code;
   
   print "$a\n";        # 2
}
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$doit = "print";
$x = 3;
$cmd = "$doit \$x";
eval($cmd)
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Is that what you were after?