> On Tue, Apr 22, 2003 at 02:51:46PM -0700, Paul wrote:
> : S6:
> : ===
> : <quote>
> : The unary prefix operator * flattens its operand (which allows
> : the elements of an array to be used as an argument list). The *
> : operator also causes its operand -- and any subsequent arguments
> : in the argument list -- to be evaluated in list context.
> :
> :    sub foo($x, $y, $z) {...} # expects three scalars
> :    @onetothree = 1..3;       # array stores three scalars
> :
> :    foo(1,2,3);               # okay:  three args found
> :    foo(@onetothree);         # error: only one arg
> :    foo(*@onetothree);        # okay: (array) flattened to 3 args
> :
> : The * operator flattens lazily -- the array is only flattened if
> : flattening is actually required within the subroutine. To flatten
> : before the list is even passed into the subroutine, use the unary
> : prefix ** operator:
> :
> :  foo(**@onetothree);    # array flattened before &foo called
> :
> : </quote>
> : ===
> :
> : So is ** actually a seperately implemented operator, or is that the
> *
> : op working on the return from the * op, like the way Larry
> : suggested the ref-of-ref operator, \\ ? :)

> Er, that was a joke...

> * and ** are identical insofar as they defeat signatures and impose
> list context on the rest of the arguments in the list.  The only
> difference is that for ** there's an extra internal call to flatten()
> or some such that un-lazifies anything lazy in the list.
> Larry