wantarray

wantarray

Returns true if the context of the currently executing subroutine or eval is looking for a list value. Returns false if the context is looking for a scalar. Returns the undefined value if the context is looking for no value (void context).

return unless defined wantarray; # don't bother doing more
my @a = complex_calculation();
return wantarray ? @a : "@a";

wantarray()'s result is unspecified in the top level of a file, in a BEGIN , UNITCHECK , CHECK , INIT or END block, or in a DESTROY method.

This function should have been named wantlist() instead.

© 1993–2016 Larry Wall and others
Licensed under the GNU General Public License version 1 or later, or the Artistic License.
The Perl logo is a trademark of the Perl Foundation.
https://perldoc.perl.org/5.22.0/functions/wantarray.html