"Eddie C." wrote: > > Hello, Hello,
> I have 2 little programs here and they do different things, but I don't understand >why. > > # First program > > use warnings; > use strict; > my $line = "TRAVSTAT 08-27-2002 02:20:15 There is no output file required."; > (my $word) = ($line =~ /(\S+)/); > print $word; > # Prints TRAVSTAT > > # Second program > > use warnings; > use strict; > my $line = "TRAVSTAT 08-27-2002 02:20:15 There is no output file required."; > my $word = ($line =~ /(\S+)/); > print $word; > # Prints 1 > > The only difference is the lack of parentheses around my $word > on the 4th line. I read that this has something to do with > scalar context, but I don't see why one would be scalar context > and not the other. They both look like scalars to me. > > Will someone help me understand the difference? The use of parentheses on the LHS of the expression forces a list context on the RHS, without the parentheses the LHS forces a scalar context on the RHS. In a list context, a regular expression returns the list of matches that were enclosed in parentheses. In a scalar context, a regular expression returns 1 (true) if it matched or 0 (false) if it didn't match. John -- use Perl; program fulfillment -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
