|| always imposes a scalar context on its left hand operand, which is also why you can't usefully say @a = @b || @c.

One way to work around that in this case is to use the ternary operator instead:

  $a = ("ac" =~ /a(b)c/) ? $1 : 'd';
  print $a;

[download]

Update: Another approach is to use an array dereference, which is a way of retaining the ||, though I think it is less clear:

  $a = ("abc" =~ /a(b)c/)[0] || 'd';
  print $a;

[download]

Hugo

In reply to Re: Regexp context with || by hv
in thread Regexp context with || by bsb

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