Array as Object Data Member

[fattahsafa]

I need to build a class with two arrays as data members of 6 other members, as follows:

sub new {
    my $class = shift;
    my $self  = {
        _DataMember0      => shift,
        _DataMember1      => shift,
    _Array0           => shift,
        _Array1           => shift,
    };
    bless $self, $class;
}
sub get_DataMember0      {
    my ($self) = @_;
    return $self->{_TestCaseDataFiles};
}
sub get__Array0                 {
    my ($self) = @_;
    return <QUESTION>
}

Now, what should I use in place of <QUESTION> ? Another thing, how should I send a value for Array0? by reference of by value? Thanks,

[stevieb]

First, because you're shifting single items inside of new(), both arrays need to be arefs when sent in. In your get__Array methods, you want to return the array that you have stashed in $self->{_ArrayN};. Here's a full example that shows how you can return either a reference to the array you have stored, or return it as a list instead:

use warnings;
use strict;

package Test;

sub new {
    my $class = shift;
    my $self  = {
        _DataMember0      => shift,
        _Array0           => shift,
    };
    bless $self, $class;
}
sub get__Array0{
    my $self = shift;

    if (wantarray){
        # caller wants a list (dereference the ref before return)
        return @{ $self->{_Array0} };
    }
    else {
        # caller wants an array reference
        return $self->{_Array0};
    }
}

package main;

my $aref = [1, 2, 3];

my $test = Test->new(1, $aref);

# get it as a list
my @array = $test->get__Array0(); # parens not needed, only used for c
+larity

# get an aref instead
my $array_reference = $test->get__Array0();

print "$_\n" for @array;
print "$array_reference->[0]\n";