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Perl predefined variables - Perldoc Browser
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This is a development version of Perl. </div> <h1><a id="toc">CONTENTS</a></h1> <ul> <li> <a class="text-decoration-none" href="#General-Variables">General Variables</a> <ul> <li> <a class="text-decoration-none" href="#Scoping-Rules-of-Regex-Variables">Scoping Rules of Regex Variables</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a class="text-decoration-none" href="#Variables-related-to-filehandles">Variables related to filehandles</a> <ul> <li> <a class="text-decoration-none" href="#Variables-related-to-formats">Variables related to formats</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a class="text-decoration-none" href="#Error-Variables">Error Variables </a> </li> <li> <a class="text-decoration-none" href="#Variables-related-to-the-interpreter-state">Variables related to the interpreter state</a> </li> <li> <a class="text-decoration-none" href="#Deprecated-and-removed-variables">Deprecated and removed variables</a> </li> </ul> <p><i>Full documentation of predefined variables: <a href="/5.39.1/perlvar">perlvar</a></i></p> <h2 id="General-Variables"><a class="permalink" href="#General-Variables">#</a><a id="General"></a>General Variables</h2> <ul> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$_"><b>$_</b></a> - The default input and pattern-searching space</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/@_"><b>@_</b></a> - Within a subroutine the array <code>@_</code> contains the parameters passed to that subroutine</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%22"><b>$"</b></a> - When an array or an array slice is interpolated into a double-quoted string or a similar context such as <code>/.../</code>, its elements are separated by this value</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$$"><b>$$</b></a> - The process number of the Perl running this script</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$0"><b>$0</b></a> - Contains the name of the program being executed</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$("><b>$(</b></a> - The real gid of this process</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$)"><b>$)</b></a> - The effective gid of this process</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%3C"><b>$<</b></a> - The real uid of this process</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%3E"><b>$></b></a> - The effective uid of this process</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$;"><b>$;</b></a> - The subscript separator for multidimensional array emulation</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$a"><b>$a</b></a>, <a href="/5.39.1/variables/$b"><b>$b</b></a> - Special package variables when using <code>sort()</code>, see <a href="/5.39.1/perlfunc#sort">"sort" in perlfunc</a></p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/%25ENV"><b>%ENV</b></a> - The hash <code>%ENV</code> contains your current environment</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5D"><b>$]</b></a> - The revision, version, and subversion of the Perl interpreter, represented as a decimal of the form 5.XXXYYY, where XXX is the version / 1e3 and YYY is the subversion / 1e6</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EF"><b>$^F</b></a> - The maximum system file descriptor, ordinarily 2. System file descriptors are passed to <code>exec()</code>ed processes, while higher file descriptors are not</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/@F"><b>@F</b></a> - The array <code>@F</code> contains the fields of each line read in when autosplit mode is turned on</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/@INC"><b>@INC</b></a> - The array <code>@INC</code> contains the list of places that the <code>do EXPR</code>, <code>require</code>, or <code>use</code> constructs look for their library files</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/%25INC"><b>%INC</b></a> - The hash <code>%INC</code> contains entries for each filename included via the <code>do</code>, <code>require</code>, or <code>use</code> operators</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$INC"><b>$INC</b></a> - As of 5.37.7 when an <code>@INC</code> hook is executed the index of the <code>@INC</code> array that holds the hook will be localized into the <code>$INC</code> variable</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EI"><b>$^I</b></a> - The current value of the inplace-edit extension</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/@ISA"><b>@ISA</b></a> - Each package contains a special array called <code>@ISA</code> which contains a list of that class's parent classes, if any</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EM"><b>$^M</b></a> - Perl can use the contents of <code>$^M</code> as an emergency memory pool after <code>die()</code>ing</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5EMAX_NESTED_EVAL_BEGIN_BLOCKS%7D"><b>${^MAX_NESTED_EVAL_BEGIN_BLOCKS}</b></a> - This variable determines the maximum number <code>eval EXPR</code>/<code>BEGIN</code> or <code>require</code>/<code>BEGIN</code> block nesting that is allowed</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EO"><b>$^O</b></a> - The name of the operating system under which this copy of Perl was built, as determined during the configuration process</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/%25SIG"><b>%SIG</b></a> - The hash <code>%SIG</code> contains signal handlers for signals</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/%25%7B%5EHOOK%7D"><b>%{^HOOK}</b></a> - This hash contains coderefs which are called when various perl keywords which are hard or impossible to wrap are called</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5ET"><b>$^T</b></a> - The time at which the program began running, in seconds since the epoch (beginning of 1970)</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EV"><b>$^V</b></a> - The revision, version, and subversion of the Perl interpreter, represented as a <a href="/5.39.1/version">version</a> object</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EX"><b>$^X</b></a> - The name used to execute the current copy of Perl, from C's <code>argv[0]</code> or (where supported) <i>/proc/self/exe</i></p> </li> </ul> <h3 id="Scoping-Rules-of-Regex-Variables"><a class="permalink" href="#Scoping-Rules-of-Regex-Variables">#</a><a id="Scoping"></a>Scoping Rules of Regex Variables</h3> <ul> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%3Cdigits%3E%20($1,%20$2,%20...)"><b>$<<i>digits</i>> ($1, $2, ...)</b></a> - Contains the subpattern from the corresponding set of capturing parentheses from the last successful pattern match in the current dynamic scope</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/@%7B%5ECAPTURE%7D"><b>@{^CAPTURE}</b></a> - An array which exposes the contents of the capture buffers, if any, of the last successful pattern match, not counting patterns matched in nested blocks that have been exited already</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$&"><b>$&</b></a> - The string matched by the last successful pattern match</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5EMATCH%7D"><b>${^MATCH}</b></a> - It is only guaranteed to return a defined value when the pattern was compiled or executed with the <code>/p</code> modifier</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%60"><b>$`</b></a> - The string preceding whatever was matched by the last successful pattern match</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5EPREMATCH%7D"><b>${^PREMATCH}</b></a> - It is only guaranteed to return a defined value when the pattern was executed with the <code>/p</code> modifier</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$'"><b>$'</b></a> - The string following whatever was matched by the last successful pattern match</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5EPOSTMATCH%7D"><b>${^POSTMATCH}</b></a> - It is only guaranteed to return a defined value when the pattern was compiled or executed with the <code>/p</code> modifier</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$+"><b>$+</b></a> - The text matched by the highest used capture group of the last successful search pattern</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EN"><b>$^N</b></a> - The text matched by the used group most-recently closed (i.e. the group with the rightmost closing parenthesis) of the last successful match</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/@+"><b>@+</b></a> - This array holds the offsets of the ends of the last successful match and any matching capture buffers that the pattern contains</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/%25+"><b>%+</b></a> - Similar to <code>@+</code>, the <code>%+</code> hash allows access to the named capture buffers, should they exist, in the last successful match in the currently active dynamic scope</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/@-"><b>@-</b></a> - This array holds the offsets of the beginnings of the last successful match and any capture buffers it contains</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/%25-"><b>%-</b></a> - Similar to <code>%+</code>, this variable allows access to the named capture groups in the last successful match in the currently active dynamic scope</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5ELAST_SUCCESSFUL_PATTERN%7D"><b>${^LAST_SUCCESSFUL_PATTERN}</b></a> - The last successful pattern that matched in the current scope</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5ER"><b>$^R</b></a> - The result of evaluation of the last successful <code>(?{ code })</code> regular expression assertion (see <a href="/5.39.1/perlre">perlre</a>)</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5ERE_COMPILE_RECURSION_LIMIT%7D"><b>${^RE_COMPILE_RECURSION_LIMIT}</b></a> - The current value giving the maximum number of open but unclosed parenthetical groups there may be at any point during a regular expression compilation</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5ERE_DEBUG_FLAGS%7D"><b>${^RE_DEBUG_FLAGS}</b></a> - The current value of the regex debugging flags</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5ERE_TRIE_MAXBUF%7D"><b>${^RE_TRIE_MAXBUF}</b></a> - Controls how certain regex optimisations are applied and how much memory they utilize</p> </li> </ul> <h2 id="Variables-related-to-filehandles"><a class="permalink" href="#Variables-related-to-filehandles">#</a><a id="Variables"></a>Variables related to filehandles</h2> <ul> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$ARGV"><b>$ARGV</b></a> - Contains the name of the current file when reading from <code><></code></p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/@ARGV"><b>@ARGV</b></a> - The array <code>@ARGV</code> contains the command-line arguments intended for the script</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/ARGV"><b>ARGV</b></a> - The special filehandle that iterates over command-line filenames in <code>@ARGV</code></p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/ARGVOUT"><b>ARGVOUT</b></a> - The special filehandle that points to the currently open output file when doing edit-in-place processing with <b>-i</b></p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$,"><b>$,</b></a> - The output field separator for the print operator</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$."><b>$.</b></a> - Current line number for the last filehandle accessed</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%2F"><b>$/</b></a> - The input record separator, newline by default</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5C"><b>$\</b></a> - The output record separator for the print operator</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7C"><b>$|</b></a> - If set to nonzero, forces a flush right away and after every write or print on the currently selected output channel</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5ELAST_FH%7D"><b>${^LAST_FH}</b></a> - This read-only variable contains a reference to the last-read filehandle</p> </li> </ul> <h3 id="Variables-related-to-formats"><a class="permalink" href="#Variables-related-to-formats">#</a><a id="Variables1"></a>Variables related to formats</h3> <ul> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EA"><b>$^A</b></a> - The current value of the <code>write()</code> accumulator for <code>format()</code> lines</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EL"><b>$^L</b></a> - What formats output as a form feed</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%25"><b>$%</b></a> - The current page number of the currently selected output channel</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$-"><b>$-</b></a> - The number of lines left on the page of the currently selected output channel</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$:"><b>$:</b></a> - The current set of characters after which a string may be broken to fill continuation fields (starting with <code>^</code>) in a format</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$="><b>$=</b></a> - The current page length (printable lines) of the currently selected output channel</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5E"><b>$^</b></a> - The name of the current top-of-page format for the currently selected output channel</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$~"><b>$~</b></a> - The name of the current report format for the currently selected output channel</p> </li> </ul> <h2 id="Error-Variables"><a class="permalink" href="#Error-Variables">#</a><a id="Error"></a>Error Variables </h2> <ul> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5ECHILD_ERROR_NATIVE%7D"><b>${^CHILD_ERROR_NATIVE}</b></a> - The native status returned by the last pipe close, backtick (<code>``</code>) command, successful call to <code>wait()</code> or <code>waitpid()</code>, or from the <code>system()</code> operator</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EE"><b>$^E</b></a> - Error information specific to the current operating system</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5ES"><b>$^S</b></a> - Current state of the interpreter</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EW"><b>$^W</b></a> - The current value of the warning switch, initially true if <b>-w</b> was used, false otherwise, but directly modifiable</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5EWARNING_BITS%7D"><b>${^WARNING_BITS}</b></a> - The current set of warning checks enabled by the <code>use warnings</code> pragma</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$!"><b>$!</b></a> - When referenced, <code>$!</code> retrieves the current value of the C <code>errno</code> integer variable</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/%25!"><b>%!</b></a> - Each element of <code>%!</code> has a true value only if <code>$!</code> is set to that value</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%3F"><b>$?</b></a> - The status returned by the last pipe close, backtick (<code>``</code>) command, successful call to <code>wait()</code> or <code>waitpid()</code>, or from the <code>system()</code> operator</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$@"><b>$@</b></a> - The Perl error from the last <code>eval</code> operator, i.e. the last exception that was caught</p> </li> </ul> <h2 id="Variables-related-to-the-interpreter-state"><a class="permalink" href="#Variables-related-to-the-interpreter-state">#</a><a id="Variables2"></a>Variables related to the interpreter state</h2> <ul> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EC"><b>$^C</b></a> - The current value of the flag associated with the <b>-c</b> switch</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5ED"><b>$^D</b></a> - The current value of the debugging flags</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5EGLOBAL_PHASE%7D"><b>${^GLOBAL_PHASE}</b></a> - The current phase of the perl interpreter</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EH"><b>$^H</b></a> - This variable contains compile-time hints for the Perl interpreter</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/%25%5EH"><b>%^H</b></a> - The <code>%^H</code> hash provides the same scoping semantics as <a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EH"><code>$^H</code></a></p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5EOPEN%7D"><b>${^OPEN}</b></a> - An internal variable used by <a href="/5.39.1/PerlIO">PerlIO</a></p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5EP"><b>$^P</b></a> - The internal variable for debugging support</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5ETAINT%7D"><b>${^TAINT}</b></a> - Reflects if taint mode is on or off</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5ESAFE_LOCALES%7D"><b>${^SAFE_LOCALES}</b></a> - Reflects if safe locale operations are available to this perl (when the value is 1) or not (the value is 0)</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5EUNICODE%7D"><b>${^UNICODE}</b></a> - Reflects certain Unicode settings of Perl</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5EUTF8CACHE%7D"><b>${^UTF8CACHE}</b></a> - This variable controls the state of the internal UTF-8 offset caching code</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5EUTF8LOCALE%7D"><b>${^UTF8LOCALE}</b></a> - This variable indicates whether a UTF-8 locale was detected by perl at startup</p> </li> </ul> <h2 id="Deprecated-and-removed-variables"><a class="permalink" href="#Deprecated-and-removed-variables">#</a><a id="Deprecated"></a>Deprecated and removed variables</h2> <ul> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%23"><b>$#</b></a> - <code>$#</code> was a variable that could be used to format printed numbers</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$*"><b>$*</b></a> - <code>$*</code> was a variable that you could use to enable multiline matching</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%5B"><b>$[</b></a> - This variable stores the index of the first element in an array, and of the first character in a substring</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5EENCODING%7D"><b>${^ENCODING}</b></a> - It used to hold the <i>object reference</i> to the <code>Encode</code> object that was used to convert the source code to Unicode</p> </li> <li><p><a href="/5.39.1/variables/$%7B%5EWIN32_SLOPPY_STAT%7D"><b>${^WIN32_SLOPPY_STAT}</b></a> - This variable no longer has any function</p> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="footer"> <p>Perldoc Browser is maintained by Dan Book (<a href="https://metacpan.org/author/DBOOK">DBOOK</a>). 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