Re: list assignment to list in scalar context

[Anonymous Monk]

Ok, here goes.

scalar((1,2,3))

has no list in it. The confusion is that we (English speakers) "list" things by separating them using commas. From Perl's perspective, there is nothing in that statement to provide a list context. "scalar" can take any expression, and just sees comma separators, no matter how many sets of parentheses you surround it with.

scalar(()=(1,3,5))

on the other hand, has an assignment that forces a list context, so the answer becomes "3".

if( ($k, $v) = ( 1, 0 ) )

works the same way. The left side of the assignment is now a list, because of the equals sign. The overall context of any boolean test is scalar, so that an "if list" always provides the element count.

[Anonymous Monk]

@TGI: You have said that there is no list at all in:

if( (5,3,0) )

I tested below. You are right.

if( (5,3,0) ) is equal to if( 5,3,0 )

both evaluate to FALSE. I need to understand the definition of list furthur.

@tye and Anonymous Monk : Your comments make sense.

From your patient answers, I think I can draw the conclusion: The reason that list assignment in scalar context will return the number of elements on right side list is for convenience of usage.