blessed

[demerphq]

Description:

Similar to ref, but only returns the name if the item is a blessed class. In fact there are two subs, one for when you consider qr// constructs to be blessed/objects and one for when you don't. The reason the latter is provided is because a qr// is not really a user defined class type. For some uses this may be a required distinction (I have needed both at times).

Update: For most uses you are probably better off stealing GBARR's solution as posted by jmcnamara in a reply to this node. Thanks jmcnamara and gbarr. :-)

use overload; # required for either

# qr// constructs are NOT considered blessed objects.
sub blessed($) {

   (ref($_[0]) && (index(overload::StrVal($_[0]),'=')>=0) 
    && overload::StrVal($_[0])!~/^Regexp=SCALAR/) 
      ? ref($_[0]) : ""
} 

# qr// constructs ARE considered blessed objects
sub blessed($) {
   (ref($_[0]) && (index(overload::StrVal($_[0]),'=')>=0)) 
      ? ref($_[0]) : ""
} 

[merlyn]

See Scalar::Util's blessed, which is included with 5.8 and can be installed on previous Perl versions from the CPAN.

-- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker
Be sure to read my standard disclaimer if this is a reply.

[demerphq]

Funnily enough i was just coming back to put a link to that module into my description. Thanks. Also I just ran the full blessed.t from the Scalar::Util and both of my snippets pass all tests there (they arent that rigorous though, for instance no checks of qr// to be seen at all, nor blessed qr//'s)

Incidentally for the average Win32:: user this module isnt much help as it requires a compiler. (Oops, last time I checked ppm didnt have a version available, they do now.)

Nevertheless, for people who dont need all that Scalar::Util provides this will work just as well.

Cheers,

--- demerphq
my friends call me, usually because I'm late....

[jmcnamara]

Incidentally for the average Win32:: user this module isnt much help as it requires a compiler.

Scalar::Util also contains pure Perl versions of the functions for systems without a C compiler. Here is the Perl version of blessed() directly from the source:

    # The code beyond here is only used if the XS is not installed

    # Hope nobody defines a sub by this name
    sub UNIVERSAL::a_sub_not_likely_to_be_here { ref($_[0]) }

    sub blessed ($) {
      local($@, $SIG{__DIE__}, $SIG{__WARN__});
      length(ref($_[0]))
        ? eval { $_[0]->a_sub_not_likely_to_be_here }
        : undef
    }

--
John.

[PodMaster]

That's why I opened up my repository. One PPM of Scalar::Util coming right up.

http://crazyinsomniac.perlmonk.org/perl/ppm/Scalar-List-Utils.ppd

update: I guess I ought to write PPM::Repositories or PPM::RepositoryList and release it on CPAN.

MJD says you can't just make shit up and expect the computer to know what you mean, retardo! ** The Third rule of perl club is a statement of fact: pod is sexy.