I believe an empty string, the undefined value, an empty list/array and the number zero (numeric or "0") will return a false value. A non-empty string, an array with 1 or more elements, or a non-zero number will return a true value.

If you're seeing a zero, be sure it's not a string with other characters besides a zero in it. I believe spaces or other characters before or after it may cause the variable to be evaluated as a numeric zero when you're doing math, but since there's more than a number in the string, a boolean test will look at it from a string point of view, and will return 'true' since it's a non-empty string.

If $script::debug is being set to a numeric zero (or, better, undef), there's no reason the test you're describing should return a true value. I'd like to see how you're setting $script::debug.

(Updated 'list' vs. 'array'.)

---

---

• Are you posting in the right place? Check out Where do I post X? to know for sure.
• Posts may use any of the Perl Monks Approved HTML tags. Currently these include the following:

  <code> <a> <b> <big> <blockquote> <br /> <dd> <dl> <dt> <em> <font> <h1> <h2> <h3> <h4> <h5> <h6> <hr /> <i> <li> <nbsp> <ol> <p> <small> <strike> <strong> <sub> <sup> <table> <td> <th> <tr> <tt> <u> <ul>

• Snippets of code should be wrapped in <code> tags not <pre> tags. In fact, <pre> tags should generally be avoided. If they must be used, extreme care should be taken to ensure that their contents do not have long lines (<70 chars), in order to prevent horizontal scrolling (and possible janitor intervention).
• Want more info? How to link or or How to display code and escape characters are good places to start.