Re^4: Getting Getopt::Long values into a hash

I almost start my script with: my $my_hash = {} ; As far as I know this should create a hash reference ?!
What exactly means 'dereference to the LHS value' ?
When it comes to variables and references I often get confused!

Thnx
Luca

Comment on Re^4: Getting Getopt::Long values into a hash

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Re^5: Getting Getopt::Long values into a hash by fishbot_v2 (Chaplain) on Nov 08, 2005 at 16:01 UTC
As far as I know this should create a hash reference Yes that is correct. What exactly means 'dereference to the LHS value'? LHS = left hand side. I meant that the arrow operator takes a reference on the left, and dereferences it (ie. 'replaces' it with what it points to). You can then subscript it in various ways, with a key (for a hashref), an index (arrayref), parameters (coderef), or a method (object). A hashref is not a hash, and thus you cannot access it directly. You need to first "fetch" the hash that it points to.	[reply]
Re^6: Getting Getopt::Long values into a hash by jeanluca (Deacon) on Nov 08, 2005 at 16:51 UTC
Thanks a lot, I just wrote a short test program: `#! /usr/bin/perl my %mh ; $mh{a} = "b" ; $mh->{b} = "c" ; print "values are hash=$mh{a}, hash=$mh{b} or hashref=$mh->{b} \n" ;` [download] The problem with perl I think is that different types can have the same name. I wrote a script once, and before I knew it I was mixing hashes and hash references! Luca	[reply] [d/l]