-l file test operator

abubacker has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Dear all
Most of the file test operator accepts both file names and handler
but why -l says error when I gave the file handler as its operand
but it accepts filename

for ex  :
print "works " if ( -l FH ) ; # not working 

print "works " if ( -l "name_of_the_file" ) # works
[download]

Please help me out!

Comment on -l file test operator Download Code

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Re: -l file test operator by ikegami (Patriarch) on Aug 20, 2009 at 06:31 UTC
You can't have a file handle to a symbolic link, so `-l` is always false for a file handle. The warning is letting you know you're doing something that doesn't make sense. — They're "read" using `readlink`.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: -l file test operator by Anonymous Monk on Aug 20, 2009 at 06:25 UTC
..says error.. What error? Copy/paste the exact message. How (Not) To Ask A Question	[reply]
Re^2: -l file test operator by ikegami (Patriarch) on Aug 20, 2009 at 06:35 UTC
The error message is "`Use of -l on filehandle $fh`". It's a non-fatal error (aka warning). `-l $fh` returns `undef` with `$!` set to "`Inappropriate ioctl for device`" on Linux.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^3: -l file test operator by Anonymous Monk on Aug 20, 2009 at 06:36 UTC
oh ikegami, abubacker is supposed to respond, so he can get in the habit ...	[reply]