I have a large multilevel hash generated from XML via XML::Simple module. I have several hash elements that are null, and I'd like to print nothing in those cases, but my program still continues to print the HASH item.

from dumping the structure using Data::Dumper:

'QUESTION_TEXT' => {},

I've tried various ways to identify that null hash element but no luck. 

my $value = $hh{'QUESTION_TEXT'};

if (CHECKSOMETHING) {

print "$value";

} else {

print "NULL";

}

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It always prints something like HASH(0x31f4348), i.e. it appears the else clause is never executing. for CHECKSOMETHING I've tried the following, but nothing ends up executing the ELSE case: 

if ($value ne '')

if (defined($value)

if (exists($value)

if (!($value =~ /[a-zA-Z0-9]/)) {

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In reply to how to identify a null hash value by smartyollie

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