Picky, picky :)

This is a good example of why undef must be used in certain cases though. However, since the OP was looking for the third element, it might be prudent to provide an accurate example:

my ( undef, undef, $name ) = File::Spec->splitpath($path);
print "$name\n";
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That code works identically to this:

my $name = ( File::Spec->splitpath($path) )[2];
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In my code, we're dissecting the list on the right side and taking the piece that we want, whereas in the above code, (afaict) we're evaluating the right side of the operation completely, retrieving all the bits, and assigning them to placeholders on the left (undef) before they are actually used. (Correct me if I am wrong). In some situations, Shawn's implementation is required.

fwiw, OP, if you ever are to write your own functions, I recommend using hashref-based named params, even when you think that your routine should never have to be expanded. It's one thing that I will never regret, as I *never* have to re-write API documentation anymore... I simply add to it where necessary.

Consider this:

sub family_member {

    my @params = @_;

    my $brother = $params[0];
    my $sister  = $params[1];
    my $mother  = $params[2];
    my $father  = $params[3];

    print "$father\n";
}

# to tell who my father is, I'd have to:

family_member( undef, undef, undef, undef, 'Larry', );

# now, imagine if you could use a function like
# this instead:

family_member({ 
               father => 'Larry',
            });

# ...and even bundle your brothers together:

my @brothers = qw( Jeremy Josh );

family_member({
               father   => 'Larry',
               brothers => \@brothers,
             });

# now, in the above array-style example, what if you
# wanted to add an 'aunt' between 'brother' and 'sister'?
# Your API would be horribly broken, along with your
# current documentation. You'd forever be having your
# users moving around undefs to deal with your changes.
# With named refs, the only time your users feel a bite
# is if you change what happens to a pre-named param:

sub family_members(

    my $params = shift;

    my $brother = $params->{ brother };
    my $sister  = $params->{ sister };
    my $mother  = $params->{ mother };
    my $father  = $params->{ father };

    # add an aunt
    my $aunt    = $params->{ aunt };

    # how 'bout grandparents
    my $grandpa = $params->{ grandpa };

    if ( $father ) {
        return $father;
    }
    else {
        return "I don't have one\n";
    }
)

# then, you can throw at it what you want, and
# get back what you expect:

print family_member({ father => 'Larry' });

# ...or assign it:

my $father = family_member({ father => 'Larry' });
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Sorry for the offside...tis been a long day ;)

Cheers,

Steve