PerlIO::scalar(3p) | Perl Programmers Reference Guide | PerlIO::scalar(3p)

# NAME

PerlIO::scalar - in-memory IO, scalar IO

# SYNOPSIS

       my $scalar = '';
       ...
       open my $fh, "<",  \$scalar or die;
       open my $fh, ">",  \$scalar or die;
       open my $fh, ">>", \$scalar or die;

or

       my $scalar = '';
       ...
       open my $fh, "<:scalar",  \$scalar or die;
       open my $fh, ">:scalar",  \$scalar or die;
       open my $fh, ">>:scalar", \$scalar or die;

# DESCRIPTION

A filehandle is opened but the file operations are performed "in-memory" on a scalar variable. All the normal file operations can be performed on the handle. The scalar is considered a stream of bytes. Currently fileno($fh) returns -1.

Attempting to open a read-only scalar for writing will fail, and if warnings are enabled, produce a warning.

# IMPLEMENTATION NOTE

"PerlIO::scalar" only exists as a stub. One does not need to explicitly "use PerlIO::scalar".

2025-01-28 | perl v5.40.1