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Devel-ModInfo-2.04
River stage one • 1 direct dependent • 1 total dependent
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/ Devel::ModInfo::DataType

Devel::ModInfo::DataType

Devel::ModInfo::DataType - Non object-oriented module defining the data types ModInfo will describe

SYNOPSIS

This module is not meant for use outside the ModInfo system.

DESCRIPTION

The data type definitions that ModInfo uses are simply strings that attempt to describe Perl data types. Since Perl doesn't have strongly typed variables or subroutine return values, it is difficult to really nail down what these data types should be. We've settled on a collection that allows you to adequately describe how Perl data based on how much you can predict about the data. For example, you might know that your function returns a reference to something, but not what that something would be. Or you might know that your method returns a blessed object, but not what package the object will be blessed into.

  • SCALAR

    While any single-valued Perl variable could be considered a scalar, what SCALAR represents is the fact that the only thing you can predict about the value this data type represents is that it will be a single value, rather than an array or hash.

  • ARRAY

    Self-explanatory

  • ARRAYREF

    Self-explanatory

  • BLESSED

    The BLESSED datatype means that all you can predict about the value is that it will be "blessed" into a Perl package (see perltoot for more info on this).

  • BOOLEAN

    Obviously, Perl doesn't explicitly support a BOOLEAN data type, but through common Perl code, you will find uses of perl variables in a boolean context. This data type means that the value is expected to be treated as a boolean.

  • CODEREF

    Self-explanatory

  • HASH

    Self-explanatory

  • HASHREF

    Self-explantory

  • INTEGER

    INTEGER means the Perl variable can be expected to contain an integer value.

  • REFERENCE

    Again, this data type means that all you can predict about the value is that it will be a Perl reference. If you know the

  • STRING

  • A package name

    This indicates that you know the value will contain a blessed reference to a pre-defined package name.

AUTHOR

jtillman@bigfoot.com tcushard@bigfoot.com

SEE ALSO

Devel::ModInfo::Tutorial

pl2modinfo.pl

modinfo2xml.pl

modinfo2html.pl

perl(1).