in reply to map and grep
map BLOCK LIST map EXPR,LIST Evaluates the BLOCK or EXPR for each element of LIST (locally setting $_ to each element) and returns the list value compose +d of the results of each such evaluation. In scalar context, returns the total number of elements so generated. Evaluates BLOCK or EXPR in list context, so each element of LIST may produce zero, one, or more elements in the returned value. @chars = map(chr, @nums); translates a list of numbers to the corresponding characters. And %hash = map { getkey($_) => $_ } @array; is just a funny way to write %hash = (); foreach $_ (@array) { $hash{getkey($_)} = $_; } Note that $_ is an alias to the list value, so it can be used +to modify the elements of the LIST. While this is useful and supported, it can cause bizarre results if the elements of LIS +T are not variables. Using a regular "foreach" loop for this purpose would be clearer in most cases. See also "grep" for an array composed of those items of the original list for which t +he BLOCK or EXPR evaluates to true. "{" starts both hash references and blocks, so "map { ..." cou +ld be either the start of map BLOCK LIST or map EXPR, LIST. Becau +se perl doesn't look ahead for the closing "}" it has to take a guess at which its dealing with based what it finds just after the "{". Usually it gets it right, but if it doesn't it won't realize something is wrong until it gets to the "}" and encounters the missing (or unexpected) comma. The syntax error will be reported close to the "}" but you'll need to change something near the "{" such as using a unary "+" to give perl some help: %hash = map { "\L$_", 1 } @array # perl guesses EXPR. +wrong %hash = map { +"\L$_", 1 } @array # perl guesses BLOCK. +right %hash = map { ("\L$_", 1) } @array # this also works %hash = map { lc($_), 1 } @array # as does this. %hash = map +( lc($_), 1 ), @array # this is EXPR and wor +ks! %hash = map ( lc($_), 1 ), @array # evaluates to (1, @ar +ray) or to force an anon hash constructor use "+{" @hashes = map +{ lc($_), 1 }, @array # EXPR, so needs , at +end and you get list of anonymous hashes each with only 1 entry. grep BLOCK LIST grep EXPR,LIST This is similar in spirit to, but not the same as, grep(1) and its relatives. In particular, it is not limited to using regul +ar expressions. Evaluates the BLOCK or EXPR for each element of LIST (locally setting $_ to each element) and returns the list value consisting of those elements for which the expression evaluate +d to true. In scalar context, returns the number of times the expression was true. @foo = grep(!/^#/, @bar); # weed out comments or equivalently, @foo = grep {!/^#/} @bar; # weed out comments Note that $_ is an alias to the list value, so it can be used +to modify the elements of the LIST. While this is useful and supported, it can cause bizarre results if the elements of LIS +T are not variables. Similarly, grep returns aliases into the original list, much as a for loop's index variable aliases the list elements. That is, modifying an element of a list returne +d by grep (for example, in a "foreach", "map" or another "grep") actually modifies the element in the original list. This is usually something to be avoided when writing clear code. See also "map" for a list composed of the results of the BLOCK or EXPR.
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