eval[@$][?] [Perl-code]

Run Perl-code in the context of the current frame.

If no string is given after the command "eval", we run the string from the current source code about to be run. If the command ends ? (via an alias) and no string is given we will the perform the translations:

 {if|elsif|unless} (expr) [{]  => expr
 {until|while} (expr) [{]      => expr
 return expr [;]               => expr
 {my|local|our} (expr1, expr2) = (v1,v2);
                               => (expr1, expr2) = (v1,v2)
 {my|local|our} var = expr ;   => expr
 given expr                    => expr
 sub fn(params)                => (params)
 var = expr                    => expr

The above is done via regular expression. No fancy parsing is done, say, to look to see if expr is split across a line or whether var an assigment might have multiple variables on the left-hand side.

The value of the expression is stored into global array @DB:D so it may be used again easily.

Normally eval assumes you are typing a statement, not an expression; the result is a scalar value. However you can force the type of the result by adding the appropriate sigil @, %, or $.

Examples:

 eval 1+2 # 3
 eval$ 3   # Same as above, but the return type is explicit
 $ 3       # Probably same as above if $ alias is around
 eval $^X  # Possibly /usr/bin/perl
 eval      # Run current source-code line
 eval?     # but strips off leading 'if', 'while', ..
           # from command 
 eval@ @ARGV  # Make sure the result saved is an array rather than 
              # an array converted to a scalar.
 @ @ARG       # Same as above if @ alias is around
 eval% %ENV   # Make sure the result saved is a hash
 use English  # Note this is a statement, not an expression
 use English; # Same as above
 eval$ use English # Error because this is not a valid expression 

See also set auto eval. The command can help one predict future execution.