note tye <p> Actually, it is closer to: </p><c> # Save a reference to the original variable: *nothingToSeeHere::var= \$var; # Replace the variable with a new variable instance and assign # that new instance the given value (or undef if none mentioned): *var= \undef; # (but see footnote) # Restore the previous instance (and thus the previous value): ON_SCOPE_EXIT { *var= \$nothingToSeeHere::var; } </c><p> That is, it is not just the value that is saved, but the scalar that holds that value. This can matter if the variable was [tied] or has other "magic" attached to it. It also matters if you have taken a reference to the original instance of the variable or take a reference to the new instance (they will point to different variables). It also means that the string value is not copied, as would happen with <c>$saved= $var;</c>. </p> <div class="pmsig"><div class="pmsig-22609"><p align="right"> - [tye]<tt> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</tt> </p></div></div><p> ^* Actually, this step is less like <c>*var= \undef;</c> (which leaves $var read-only) and perhaps more like <c>*var= do { my $t= undef; \$t };</c>. But testing shows that the latter leaves $var marked "PADBUSY" and "PADMY" so it is perhaps even more like <c>*var= \[undef]->[0];</c>. Go figure. :) </p> 665045 665054