http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=301380


in reply to Perl Idioms Explained - && and || "Short Circuit" operators

--------------------------------------------------------- $this && $that | If $this is true, and $that is true | return the value of the last | expression evaluated ($that). -----------------+--------------------------------------- $this || $that | If $this evaluates true, stop | evaluating, we're done. Otherwise | evaluate $that for truthfulness. | If $that evaluates true, return | the value of $that. ---------------------------------------------------------

That doesn't explain what is returned if $that is false. May I suggest the following (which is shorter, symmetric, and explains the return value on failure).

--------------------------------------------------------- $this && $that | If $this is true, return $that, | else return $this. -----------------+--------------------------------------- $this || $that | If $this is true, return $this, | else return $that. ---------------------------------------------------------

Abigail

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Re: Re: Perl Idioms Explained - && and || "Short Circuit" operators
by davido (Cardinal) on Oct 22, 2003 at 21:34 UTC
    Thanks Abigail. The node has been updated per your suggestion. Good catch.

    Dave


    "If I had my life to do over again, I'd be a plumber." -- Albert Einstein