Re: [TCLUG:19613] [OT] perl boogage?

[Clay Fandre <cfandre@maddog.mn-linux.org>]

Phil Plumbo wrote:
> 
> I ran across a curiosity in a perl program today, which can be explained
> like so:
> 
>  @ITEMS = (0, 1, 2);
>  print @#ITEMS;                # prints "2";
> 
> So if you wedge a '#' into an array name, it means "the length of the array,
> less 1" (Oh, of course!). The guy was using it as a loop limit.
> 
> I couldn't find anything on this in any of the perl books I own... is this a
> documented feature of the language, or just a fetid schbat of boogage?
> 
> To me, it looks suspiciously like a fetid schbat of boogage.

It is actually documented in the Programming Perl 1st ed on page 68. You
can also change the length of an array by assigning a value to
$@whatever.

Shortening the length does not actually destroy any data. You can
lengthen it again to get the data back. Pretty cool stuff.

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