How do I turn an array returned from a function (like split) into an array reference?

Question

Consider this code:

@tmp = split(/\s+/, "apple banana cherry");
$aref = \@tmp;

Besides being inelegant, the above code is fragile. Say I follow it with this line:

@tmp = split(/\s+/, "dumpling eclair fudge");

Now $$aref[1] is "eclair" instead of "banana".

How can I avoid the use of the temp variable?

Conceptually, I'm thinking of something like

$aref = \@{split(/\s+/, "apple banana cherry")};

Functions can't return arrays. split returns a list of scalars, just like any sub. — ikegami
– ikegami, Commented Nov 7, 2011 at 5:11

mu is too short · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-07 04:28:47Z

19

You could do this if you want an array-ref:

my $aref = [ split(/\s+/, "apple banana cherry") ];

answered Nov 7, 2011 at 4:28

mu is too short

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dreeves · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-07 04:29:33Z

3

I figured it out:

$aref = [split(/\s+/, "apple banana cherry")];

answered Nov 7, 2011 at 4:29

dreeves

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mu is too short · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-10 05:42:47Z

2

While I like mu's answer (and would use that approach first here), keep in mind that variables can be rather easily scoped, even without the use of functions, imagine:

my $aref = do {
  my @temp = split(/\s+/, "apple banana cherry");
  \@temp;
};
print join("-", @$aref), "\n";
# with warnings: Name "main::temp" used only once: possible typo at ...
# with strict: Global symbol "@temp" requires explicit package name at ...
print join("-", @temp), "\n";

Happy coding.

edited Jan 10, 2012 at 5:42

mu is too short

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answered Nov 7, 2011 at 4:32

user166390

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